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

“I was on grief brain at the time and just feel I was taken advantage of and really sold a bill of goods,” said Tutera, 70.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think our diets, nationally, and international probably, show the fact that we just have allowed ourselves to be sold a bill of goods.”

From New York Times

Steinberg suggests I was sold a bill of goods.

From Los Angeles Times

“At the same time, I have sympathy for some of these students because I think they were sold a bill of goods.”

From New York Times