verb (used with object), fobbed, fob·bing. Archaic to cheat; deceive.
Verb Phrases fob off , to cheat someone by substituting something spurious or inferior; palm off (often followed by on ): He tried to fob off an inferior brand on us. to put (someone) off by deception or trickery: She fobbed us off with false promises. Origin of fob 2 1350–1400; Middle English fobben; cognate with
German foppen to delude; cf.
fob1 Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for fob off cheat ,
deceive ,
foist ,
misinform ,
mislead ,
misrepresent ,
rook ,
scam ,
stall ,
swindle ,
trick ,
misguide ,
offload British Dictionary definitions for fob off verb (tr, adverb) to appease or trick (a person) with lies or excuses
to dispose of (goods) by trickery
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noun a chain or ribbon by which a pocket watch is attached to a waistcoat
any ornament hung on such a chain
a small pocket in a man's waistcoat, for holding a watch
a metal or plastic tab on a key ring
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Word Origin for fob C17: probably of Germanic origin; compare German dialect Fuppe pocket
verb fobs , fobbing or fobbed an archaic word for cheat Show More
Word Origin for fob C15: probably from German foppen to trick
noun NZ slang a Pacific Islander who has newly arrived in New Zealand
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Word Origin for fob C20: from f (resh ) o (ff ) (the ) b (oat )
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for fob off n. 1650s, "small pocket for valuables," probably related to Low German fobke "pocket," High German fuppe "pocket," "a dialectal word used in Livonia" [Klein]. Meaning "chain attached to a watch carried in the fob" is from 1885.
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v. "to cheat," late 14c., from obsolete noun fobbe "cheat, trickster" (late 14c.), perhaps from Old French forbe "cheat" [OED]. Alternative etymology holds that the word is perhaps related to German foppen "to jeer at, make a fool of" (see fop ); or from German fuppen , einfuppen "to pocket stealthily," which would connect it to fob (n.). To fob (someone) off is first recorded 1590s. Related: Fobbed ; fobbing .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with fob off 1 Sell or dispose of goods by fraud or deception, as in They tried to fob off the zircon as a diamond . [c. 1600]
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2 Put off or appease by deceitful means, as in We needed her help but were fobbed off by promises . [c. 1600]
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
