Blowing smoke up my ass

I've heard several people this week use this phrase and can't decide what its orgins are. Any ideas?

No.

OK, although my first reaction was basically "Yecch," my husband says he thinks it means flattery. "Blowing smoke" = producing empty talk, "hot air"; the "ass" part is just for emphasis, as in "Get your butt in here!"

Here is the NE part of the US the expression is a plea or admonition to refrain from FALSE flattery as in "Dont be a yes man and stop blowin' smoke up my ass--is the project as proposed doable or not?"

Yes. Deceptive flattery. The smoke is the same as in "smoke and mirrors" to descrive the distractive illusions of a magician.