bill of goods

[ bil uhv goodz ]

noun

1. a quantity or consignment of saleable items, as an order, shipment, etc.
2. Informal. a misrepresented, fraudulent, or defective article.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bill of goods¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. sell someone a bill of goods, Informal. to defraud or deceive someone:

   He sold me a bill of goods about that used car.