Uncommon word -  Common meaning Pt II

The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.
 

Mark Twain

SPIEL : A quick speech that the speaker has used many times before, especially one that is intended to persuade people to buy something:

                A salesman started giving us a spiel about life insurance.

PANACHE : A way of doing things that makes them seem easy and exciting, and makes other people admire you  = style.

                       She carried off the performance with great panache.

“His rhetoric seems to be gaining traction with the public.”

RHETORIC  : Language that is used to persuade or influence people, especially language that sounds impressive but is not actually sincere or useful

                          The speech was dismissed by some people as merely political rhetoric.

PANDER  : Pander to somebody/something ( phrasal verb )

To give someone anything they want in order to please them, even if it seems unreasonable or unnecessary - used to show disapproval.

                  Some newspapers feel they have to pander to the prejudices of their readers.

                  Do you think such highly trained staff will pander to your every whim?

"The European Central Bank(ECB) did a farcical stress test on European Banks... was a piffling 3.5 billion euros."  Hard Times in Eurozone by Mr. Abheek Barua ( Chief economist, HDFC Bank), The Times of India, 20.12.2011

PIFFLING: If you describe something as piffling, you are critical of it because it is very small or unimportant. 

FARCICAL:

a. Resembling a farce; ludicrous.

b. Ridiculously clumsy; absurd.

That's it till 27th instant, Dear Friends, when I'll be back from vacation.

MERRY CHRISTMAS in advance.