Something that is profoundly irritating, designed to mislead, or makes no
sense whatsoever. Similar to smoke and mirrors but considerably more
mundane.
"What a sterling
email" - an email
heavy with
words but light on meaning or commitment to anything at all.
"A stirling job" - a job that has been done in a way so as to give the impression of completion but that actually is only designed to hide or detract from underlying defects or incompetence.