fob off

British  

verb

1. to appease or trick (a person) with lies or excuses

2. to dispose of (goods) by trickery

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fob off Idioms  

1. Sell or dispose of goods by fraud or deception, as in They tried to fob off the zircon as a diamond . [c. 1600]

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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Example Sentences

Is it really sustainable for them to fob off questions about it with non-answers for weeks on end?

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2023

I have never read any major news story so inappropriately world-weary — and so willing to fob off the press’ failures on the public.

From Salon • Dec. 17, 2019

They put off replacement, defer maintenance and fob off concerns all in the name of “saving money” until something does happen.

From New York Times • Nov. 28, 2018

I wouldn’t put it past Roger to play on Pete’s ambition and sense of self-importance and fob off on him some of the non-recreational aspects of the job.

From Slate • May 8, 2012

Vain, too, was his attempt to fob off his rebellious subordinate with the reluctance of the King.

From Lord Chatham His Early Life and Connections by Rosebery, Archibald Phillip Primrose