the emperor's new clothes

The phrase "the emperor's new clothes" refers to a situation where someone or something is thought to be impressive, important, or powerful, but is actually revealed to be empty, worthless, or lacking in substance. It is derived from a Danish fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen titled "The Emperor's New Clothes," where the emperor is tricked into believing he is wearing exquisite clothes that are invisible to those who are incompetent or stupid. In reality, the emperor is naked, but people around him pretend to see the clothes out of fear of being seen as foolish. Consequently, the phrase is commonly used to criticize situations where people, institutions, or ideas are blindly supported or praised despite their obvious flaws or lack of value.