Primary Cliché: Sold a Bill of Goods
Meaning: To cheat or defraud someone. Persuading someone to accept something undesirable.
Definition Explained: A “bill of goods” typically refers to a consignment of merchandise in commercial terms. When someone is “sold a bill of goods,” they’ve been deceived or tricked into accepting something unfavorable. The phrase originated from the early 20th century.
First Known Usage:
- Playwright Eugene O’Neill in Marco Millions (1924): “Selling a big bill of goods hereabouts, I’ll wager, you old rascals.”
- Toronto Globe and Mail (Feb. 17, 1968): “There was no production bonus. . . we were sold a bill of goods.”
Synonyms:
- Fooled
- Duped
- Hoodwinked
- Misled
- Bamboozled
Antonyms:
- Enlightened
- Informed
- Educated
- Aware
- Alert
Funny Quotes 🃏
- “Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room.” – Winston Churchill
- “There’s a sucker born every minute.” – P.T. Barnum
Similar Idioms or Expressions:
- Pulling the wool over someone’s eyes.
- Pulling a fast one.
- Hoisting by one’s own petard.
- Bait and switch.
- Leading down the garden path.
Common Proverbs 🌐
- “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.”
- “All that glitters is not gold.”
- “Let the buyer beware.”
References in Literature 📚:
- Book: The Confidence-Man by Herman Melville – A book that essentially deals with various forms of trickery, charlatanry, and deception.
- Book: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller – Explores absurdities and contradictions, many stemming from deceits.
- Movie: The Sting (1973) – A classic film centered on a complex con story.
Inspirational Thought 🌟🔮:
“The joy of discovery is often clouded by the disquiet of deceit.” – Connie Conundrum
Quiz Time! 📚📝
### Which phrase means to cheat or defraud someone?
- [x] Sold a bill of goods
- [ ] Given a clear path
- [ ] Handed the keys to the city
- [ ] Serving on a silver platter
> **Explanation:** "Sold a bill of goods" is a phrase that means to deceive or cheat someone into accepting something unwanted or unfavorable.
### Find the related idiom for: "misled drastically."
- [ ] Hitting the nail on the head
- [ ] Opening Pandora's box
- [x] Pulling the wool over someone's eyes
- [ ] Climbing the corporate ladder
> **Explanation:** "Pulling the wool over someone's eyes" is an idiom that means to mislead or deceive someone dramatically.
### True or False: 'Pulling a fast one' means doing something quickly.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False. "Pulling a fast one" means to successfully trick or deceive someone.
### Which of these idioms is about deception?
- [ ] Reading between the lines
- [x] Leading down the garden path
- [ ] Burning the midnight oil
- [ ] Crossing the bridge
> **Explanation:** "Leading down the garden path" means to deceive or mislead someone.
### Complete the idiom: "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on ____."
- [ ] Us
- [ ] Everyone
- [x] Me
- [ ] Them
> **Explanation:** The full idiom is "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me," implying one should learn from past mistakes.
Thank you for diving into “Sold a Bill of Goods: The Art of Deception.” Always stay keen and vigilant; remember, not everything that shines is gold. Till next time!
– Connie Conundrum, 2023
