bill of goods

American  

[bil uhv goodz] / ˈbɪl əv ˈgʊdz /

noun

1. a quantity or consignment of saleable items, as an order, shipment, etc.

2. Informal. a misrepresented, fraudulent, or defective article.

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idioms

1. sell someone a bill of goods, to defraud or deceive someone.

   He sold me a bill of goods about that used car.

Etymology

Origin of bill of goods

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

They’ve been sold that bill of goods too many times before.

From Salon • Jan. 16, 2026

If you’ve spent any time on social media, you’ll stop to consider how many times you’ve been sold a bill of goods by a TikTok or an Instagram Reel.

From New York Times • Jun. 7, 2024

Steinberg suggests I was sold a bill of goods.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 11, 2023

I can’t help but wonder if McIlroy feels now like he was sold a bill of goods.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 6, 2023

But I wasn't buying the bill of goods Shohreh Saedi was selling.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi