Fob someone off 🚪💨🎁

Meaning

To get rid of someone by giving them something unsatisfactory or by deceiving them.

Origin

The term 'fob' itself has a long and murky history, possibly stemming from the French 'fob', an abbreviation for 'fagot', referring to a bundle of something, or even the German 'foppen', meaning to fool or deceive. The phrase likely emerged in the 19th century, picturing someone being pushed away, or 'fobbed off', with a bundle of goods or a flimsy excuse. It suggests a swift, dismissive action, like trying to pawn off unwanted merchandise or a weak alibi onto an unsuspecting person. The 'off' emphasizes the rejection and removal from the speaker's presence or responsibility.

🎭🤥 deception 🗣️ communication 🔒 secrets ☠️ risk

Fob someone off represented with emoji🚪💨🎁

This playful collection of icons functions as a pithy parable, teaching the viewer the art of evasion. It underscores the subtle dance of deflection, where a simple door can signify an exit, a puff of air suggests dismissal, and a gift becomes the tool for misdirection. Note how the 💨 and 🎁 together subvert the notion of genuine exchange, instead serving as a clever mechanism to 'fob someone off'.

Examples

  • He tried to fob me off with a cheap imitation, but I knew it wasn't the real thing.
  • The salesman attempted to fob us off with a used car that had engine trouble.
  • The goblin tried to fob the lost knight off with a magically delicious-looking berry that tasted like old socks.
  • Rather than answer the question directly, the magician decided to fob the audience off with a puff of smoke and a riddle.

Frequently asked questions

What's another way to say fob someone off?

Synonyms for 'fob someone off' include to deceive, trick, mislead, swindle, or to palm something off on someone. These alternatives capture the essence of getting rid of someone through dishonest means or by providing an unsatisfactory substitute.

Can you give an example sentence using fob someone off?

The dishonest salesman tried to fob the customer off with a faulty product, claiming it was only slightly used. This illustrates how one might be duped into accepting something inferior to be rid of a persistent seller.

Is 'fob someone off' a British or American idiom?

While 'fob someone off' is understood in both regions, it is considered more common in British English. The phrase suggests a subtle yet dismissive trickery often associated with the idiom's origins.

What's the opposite of fob someone off?

The opposite of 'fob someone off' is to be honest, transparent, and to treat someone fairly. It involves addressing their needs or concerns directly and satisfactorily, rather than attempting to deceive or dismiss them.

Similar to "fob someone off"

String someone along
Both involve promising something that isn't truly intended, but 'stringing someone along' often implies a longer, more drawn-out deception, like keeping a lover or a subordinate hoping for something that will never materialize, whereas 'fob someone off' is usually a quicker, more transactional disposal
Pass the buck
Both phrases concern evading responsibility, but 'pass the buck' is about shunting off a task or blame onto someone else, focusing on avoiding duty; 'fob someone off' is about getting rid of a person themselves, often by giving them something useless or false
Give someone the brush-off
Both mean to dismiss someone curtly, but 'give the brush-off' is about a cold, often social, rejection, making it clear the person is unwanted; 'fob someone off' implies a more active, perhaps sleazy, way of getting rid of them, usually involving a trick or a substandard substitute

Opposite of "fob someone off"

Stand by someone
This argues for unwavering loyalty and support, directly opposing the act of getting rid of someone, especially deceitfully, and highlights the virtue of steadfast commitment that 'fobbing someone off' shatters
See someone through
This champions the idea of accompanying and supporting someone until the very end of a difficult situation, a profound act of solidarity that stands in stark contrast to the dismissive and often deceitful nature of 'fobbing someone off'

Related to "fob someone off"

A wild goose chase
This often results from being 'fobbed off' with a false promise or direction, painting a picture of futile effort after someone has been led astray
Smoke and mirrors
This describes the deceptive tactics used when someone is 'fobbed off', suggesting that the unsatisfactory offer or excuse is merely an illusion designed to distract and dismiss
The short end of the stick
This is often what the person ends up with after being 'fobbed off', capturing the feeling of receiving the unfair or disadvantageous part of a deal or situation
Take someone for a ride
This is the broader act of deception that can encompass 'fobbing someone off', focusing on the swindling and trickery involved in making someone believe something untrue for one's own gain