bill of goods

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Explanation of "Bill of Goods"

Definition:
A "bill of goods" is a noun that can refer to two main ideas:

Usage Instructions

• Use "bill of goods" when discussing either the actual list of items or when describing a situation where someone is being misled about a product or service.
• It is often used in informal contexts, especially in conversations about buying and selling.

Examples

1. Merchandise Context: "The store received a bill of goods that included new electronics and clothing."
2. Deceptive Context: "They tried to sell me a bill of goods about that old car, claiming it was in perfect condition, but it had many hidden problems."

Advanced Usage

In a more advanced context, you might encounter phrases like "sell someone a bill of goods," which means to deceive someone into believing something false. For instance, "Be careful; the salesman might try to sell you a bill of goods to make a quick profit."

Word Variants

• Bills of Goods (plural): Refers to multiple lists of merchandise or multiple instances of deception.
• Bill of Sale: A related term that refers specifically to a document that proves the sale of goods between a buyer and a seller.

Different Meanings

In addition to the meanings mentioned, "bill of goods" can sometimes refer more generally to any kind of misleading information or false promises in various contexts, not just in sales.

Synonyms

• List of items (for the merchandise context)
• Deceptive sales pitch (for the misleading context)
• False claims
• Empty promises

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

While "bill of goods" itself is a specific phrase, you might come across related idioms such as:

Summary

In summary, a "bill of goods" can refer to a list of items being sold or to a situation where someone is misled into believing something false.

Academic

Noun

1. a consignment of merchandise
2. communication (written or spoken) that persuades someone to accept something untrue or undesirable
   • they tried to sell me a bill of goods about a secondhand car