# sell someone a bill of goods

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/sell-someone-a-bill-of-goods
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To deceive or cheat someone.

## Examples

- The salesman sold me a bill of goods about this broken car.
- I realized the company sold me a bill of goods when the software failed to perform as they promised.
- The politician sold the public a bill of goods, promising economic prosperity while secretly planning policies that would only benefit his wealthy donors.

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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.