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- sell a bill of goods
sell a bill of goods
sell someone a bill of goods
Fig. to get someone to believe something that isn't true; to deceive someone. Don't pay any attention to what John says. He's just trying to sell you a bill of goods. I'm not selling you a bill of goods. What I say is true.
sell somebody a bill of goods
to lie about something He sold the FBI a bill of goods to stay out of jail himself.
sell somebody a bill of goods
(American) to make someone believe something that is not true Politicians have sold all of us a bill of goods, that if we put more people in prison we're going to be safer. The electrician said I'd need the outdoor lighting on a different circuit - is he just selling me a bill of goods?
sell a bill of goods
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]
sell a bill of goods
Informal To take unfair advantage of.