# sell ice to Eskimos

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/sell-ice-to-eskimos
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

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

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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.