expression, godan verb (-ru)
throw up a smoke screen; put up a false front; purposely mislead
Idiomatic expression. Literally means to deploy a smoke screen, but commonly used figuratively for creating a diversion or misleading others.
彼は自分の失敗を隠すために煙幕を張った。
He threw up a smoke screen to hide his own mistake.
政治家は質問に答えず、煙幕を張るような発言をした。
The politician made a statement that put up a false front, avoiding the question.