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REFERENCE

sell ice to Eskimos

idiom
Meaning

To persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary or preposterous.


Examples
SIMPLE

He is so persuasive that he could sell ice to Eskimos.

CONTEXTUAL

The salesman was so talented that he managed to sell ice to Eskimos, convincing them to buy heaters in the middle of summer.

COMPLEX

With his silver tongue and relentless charm, the politician could sell ice to Eskimos, persuading the public to support policies that clearly harmed their own interests.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    break the ice

    To start to get to know people to avoid social awkwardness and formality.

  2. 02

    I have a bridge to sell you

    An indirect way of expressing that the addressee is gullible.

  3. 03

    ice cool

    calm and composed in a difficult situation.

  4. 04

    ice maiden

    An ice queen; a beautiful but heartless woman.

  5. 05

    ice queen

    A beautiful but heartless woman.

  6. 06

    keep one's stick on the ice

    To remain vigilant and ready for action.

  7. 07

    keep someone on ice

    To keep someone uninformed and waiting for a response.

  8. 08

    on thin ice

    Dangerously, hazardously, delicately.

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