palm off: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘palm off’ mean?
The idiom "palm off" means to deceive or trick someone by giving them something of lower quality or importance than what was expected or promised.
Idiom Explorer
An idiom meaning to betray someone or deceive them dishonestly, often when they least expect it.
The idiom "stab in the back" has a specific meaning and conveys a sense of betrayal or deceit. It is commonly used to describe a situation where someone is betrayed by someone they trust or consider a friend. The phrase implies that the betrayal is unexpected and deeply hurtful.
"Sell the pass" is an idiom that means to betray or deceive someone, especially for personal gain. The origin of the idiom comes from historical military strategies where a pass (a narrow path through mountains or hills) would be strategically sold by a person to the opposing army, allowing them to gain access and defeat their own side. The idiom is often used to describe situations where someone betrays their own team, group, or allies.
The idiom "sell someone a bill of goods" means to deceive or mislead someone, especially by making false or exaggerated claims about a product or service.
An idiom that refers to the spreading of false information or gossip about someone or something, often with the intention of damaging their reputation.
The idiom "rip off" means to take or steal something from someone in a dishonest or unfair way, often by charging a much higher price for something than it is worth.
The idiom "ring false" means that something seems insincere or not genuine. It refers to a feeling that a statement or situation is untrue or artificial.
The idiom "raw deal" means to receive unfair treatment or a bad outcome in a situation.
The idiom "raw deal" is a commonly used phrase in American English. It is often used to express a sense of unfair treatment or a situation where someone is given an unfavorable outcome. The idiom has a negative connotation and is typically used to describe a situation that is perceived as unjust or unfavorable.
The idiom "put one past" means to deceive or trick someone, often by successfully hiding or concealing something from them.
Unveiling Symbolic Deception
The idiom "palm off" is commonly used in both American and British English to describe deceiving or tricking someone by dishonestly passing off something of low quality or value as something better or more valuable. This expression has its roots in the late 18th century and is associated with the physical action of palming, which involves hiding something in the hand to conceal it from view. The origin of the idiom "palm off" can be traced back to theatrical slang and has since evolved to encompass various forms of deception.
When someone "palm off" something, they are essentially trying to convince another person that whatever they are presenting is genuine or valuable, when in reality it is not. This act of misrepresenting can take different forms, such as selling counterfeit goods, providing false information, or passing off inferior products as superior. The idiom "palm off" is often used to describe instances where someone is trying to pull off a deceptive scheme, making it a fitting representation of acts of trickery and fraud.
The idiom "palm off" has interesting connections to other idioms such as "stab in the back", "cross someone's palm", "hand off", "brush off", and "blow off". These idioms, while not directly related to "palm off", are also expressions that describe various actions involving deceit, trickery, or dismissal of others.
"Stab in the back" is an idiom used to describe an act of betrayal or treachery. It signifies the act of harming or betraying someone's trust, often in a covert manner. While "palm off" and "stab in the back" have different literal meanings, they both convey a sense of deception or betrayal.
"Cross someone's palm" is an idiom used to describe giving someone money for a service or information. The phrase suggests that a person's palm is being crossed with money as a gesture of payment. Although the literal meaning of "cross someone's palm" is different from that of "palm off", they share a connection in terms of involving the hand and actions related to deceit or exchange.
"Hand off" is an idiomatic phrase used to describe passing responsibility or control of something to another person. It implies a deliberate act of transferring ownership or accountability, often with the intention of avoiding personal involvement or blame. While "hand off" and "palm off" have different literal meanings, they convey a similar sense of passing something off to another person, albeit in different contexts.
"Brush off" is an idiomatic phrase used to describe dismissing or disregarding someone or something. It implies a lack of interest or concern, often in a manner that can be perceived as rude or indifferent. While "brush off" and "palm off" have different literal meanings, they share a connection in terms of actions involving dismissal or disregard of others.
"Blow off" is an idiom used to describe ignoring or failing to keep a commitment or appointment. It suggests a lack of respect or consideration for the other person's time or expectations. While "blow off" and "palm off" have different literal meanings, they both involve actions that can be seen as dismissive or disrespectful.
The idiom "palm off" is a commonly used expression that describes deceiving or tricking someone by dishonestly passing off something of low quality or value as something better or more valuable. Its origins can be traced back to theatrical slang in the late 18th century, and it has since evolved to become a figurative expression encompassing various forms of deception. Additionally, it is interesting to note how the idiom "palm off" shares connections with other idioms such as "stab in the back", "cross someone's palm", "hand off", "brush off", and "blow off", which all involve actions related to deceit, betrayal, dismissal, or disregard.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "palm off" can be used in a sentence:
- He tried to palm off his old phone as a brand new one.
- The salesman attempted to palm off counterfeit merchandise.
- She couldn't palm off her responsibilities onto her colleagues.
More "Deception" idioms
