The term "snake oil" has its origins in 19th-century America, where it was used to describe a fraudulent or worthless remedy. The story goes that traveling salesmen would peddle their miraculous elixirs made from snake oil, which they claimed could cure all ills and alleviate pain. However, upon closer inspection, these "miracle" potions were often just plain old linseed oil mixed with a few cheap ingredients to give it a distinctive color and smell. As such, the phrase "snake oil" has come to refer to any product or idea that is seen as being deceptively marketed or overhyped, with no real substance behind it.