From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishwindow dressingˈwindow ˌdressing noun [uncountable] 1 HIDE/NOT SHOWsomething that is intended to make people like your plans or activities, and to stop them seeing the true situation – used to show disapproval All these glossy pamphlets are just window dressing – the fact is that the new mall will ruin the neighborhood.2 SHOP/STOREARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS OR PEOPLEthe art of arranging goods in a shop window so that they look attractive to customers
Examples from the Corpus
window dressing• The proposal seems no more than a window dressing exercise.• Critics say that the organization's call to include more minorities is just window dressing.• We think that a couple of buy-outs will be allowed to succeed as a form of window dressing.• It is probably patronising to say that in both cases the window dressing is up to Kensington standards, but it is.• Hence the unmarked grave; still part of the window dressing.• Granted some of the images are a little sanitised, but the good intentions can be clearly read through the window dressing.From Longman Business Dictionarywindow dressingˈwindow ˌdressing noun [uncountable]1when people try to give the public a favourable idea about something, sometimes hiding the true situationStock prices benefited from window dressing by some money managers anxious to present good reports to clients.2the art of arranging goods in a shop window so that they look attractive to customers —window dresser noun [countable]Window dressers have created strong demand for the stock. 