sell a bill of goods

Idioms  

1. Deceive, swindle, take unfair advantage of, as in He was just selling you a bill of goods when he said he worked as a secret agent, or Watch out if anyone says he wants to trade bikes with you; he's apt to be selling you a bill of goods. The bill of goods here means “a dishonest offer.” [c. 1920]

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Example Sentences

The Orioles are trying to sell a bill of goods to dispirited fans about a baseball revival underway with new general manager Mike Elias, fresh off the turnaround team that rebuilt the Houston Astros.

From Washington Times • Jul. 16, 2019

One was to sell a bill of goods; the other to advise Bell of a chance that I knew of by which I was certain he could make a small fortune.

From Rolling Stones by Henry, O.

I soon began to walk the floor to keep the kid from howling, and presently I decided I would rather keep that child quiet than sell a bill of goods.

From Tales of the Road by Crewdson, Charles N. (Charles Newman)

To-morrow I've got to go over to Newark to sell a bill of goods.

From Every Soul Hath Its Song by Hurst, Fannie

I heard of a young man the other day who went into an office in Chicago to sell a bill of goods.

From Fifty-Two Story Talks to Boys and Girls by Chidley, Howard J. (Howard James)

Related Words

• bilk
• con
• deceive
• defraud
• dupe
• extort
• fleece
• gouge
• hoodwink
• overcharge
• victimize