# fall off the back of a truck

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/fall-off-the-back-of-a-truck
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Of an item of merchandise, to come into a person's possession through illegal or otherwise dubious means.

## Examples

- He bought that expensive watch, but it probably fell off the back of a truck.
- The seller offered me a brand new laptop for half the price, but I suspect it fell off the back of a truck.
- Although the merchant insisted the goods were legitimate, the suspiciously low price suggested they had likely fallen off the back of a truck.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.