song and dance

English

Noun

song and dance (countable and uncountable, plural songs and dances)

1. A display of unnecessary excitement or activity.
2. An excessively elaborate story or excuse used to justify something.
   • 2011 December 2, Ariel Kaminer, “The Ethicist: Caveat Vendor”, in New York Times, retrieved 6 April 2015:

     You could pick up the phone, call your vendors and give them a big song and dance about all the great things happening in your company.

3. An excessively complex set of instructions.
4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see song,‎ and,‎ dance.