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

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

SafeSport is a flimsy bill of goods the U.S.

From Washington Post • Oct. 3, 2022

“You already feel like you were sold a bill of goods, like, ‘I did all the right things and now this.’

From Seattle Times • Dec. 29, 2021

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

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi