A small brass funnel releases a curl of smoke beside a magnifying glass on folded white cloth.

Original artwork, not a still

William Parrish

Don't blow smoke up my ass, you'll ruin my autopsy.

— Meet Joe Black ‧ 1998

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

A blunt joke about flattery. The speaker tells someone to stop blowing smoke up their backside, meaning stop insincerely praising them, and adds that it will ruin the autopsy, imagining their own body being examined and spoiled by the flattery. It's dark, sarcastic, and wants honesty instead.

Context reviewed

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