fob off

FOB

abbr.

free on board

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fob ¹  (fb)

n.

1. A small pocket at the front waistline of a man's trousers or in the front of a vest, used especially to hold a watch.

2.

a. A short chain or ribbon attached to a pocket watch and worn hanging in front of the vest or waist.

b. An ornament or seal attached to such a chain or ribbon.

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[Probably akin to Low German Fobke, small pocket.]

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fob ²  (fb)

tr.v. fobbed, fob·bing, fobs Archaic

To cheat or deceive (another).

Phrasal Verb:

fob off

1. To dispose of (goods) by fraud or deception; palm off: fobbed off the zircon as a diamond.

2. To put off or appease by deceitful or evasive means: needed help but was fobbed off with promises.

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[Middle English fobben, probably from fob, trickster.]

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fob off

vb (tr, adverb)

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

2. to dispose of (goods) by trickery

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

fob off - sell as genuine, sell with the intention to deceive foist off, palm off crime, criminal offence, criminal offense, law-breaking, offense, offence - (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; "a long record of crimes" commerce, commercialism, mercantilism - transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services) sell - exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent; "He sold his house in January"; "She sells her body to survive and support her drug habit"