Eskimo

Related to Eskimo: Eskimo dog

(someone) could sell an icebox to an Eskimo

Someone is an extremely smooth, charming, or persuasive salesperson, such that they could sell something to those who have no need or use for it. (The phrase should be used with caution, as the term "Eskimo" is considered by some to be offensive or derogatory. It alludes to the various indigenous peoples of the traditionally cold, snowy northern circumpolar regions of the globe, who thus would have no reason to buy an icebox.) I can't believe you were able to sell an extra 200 units to the hospital. You could sell an icebox to an Eskimo!
See also: could, Eskimo, sell

(someone) could sell ice to Eskimos

Someone is an extremely smooth, charming, or persuasive salesperson, such that they could sell something to people who have no need or use for it. (The phrase alludes to the various indigenous peoples of the traditionally cold, snowy northern circumpolar regions of the globe, who thus would have no shortage of (and no need to buy) ice. It should be used with caution, though, as the term "Eskimo" is considered by some to be offensive or derogatory. ) I can't believe you were able to sell an extra 200 units to the hospital. You could sell ice to Eskimos!
See also: could, Eskimo, ice, sell

Eskimo(s) have (some amount of) words for snow

cliché Used in humorous conjunction with a fact or speculation that some group of people has an inordinate number of ways to name, describe, or talk about some specific thing or topic. Derived from the popular but erroneous belief that the Yupik and Inuit languages of the indigenous peoples of the northern circumpolar region (commonly described collectively as "Eskimo" or "Eskimos") contain an unusually large number of words to name or describe snow. The use of the term "Eskimo" by non-indigenous speakers may be considered offensive. If Eskimos have 100 words for snow, Americans have as many words for money. Eskimo may have dozens of words for snow, but the hipsters in this city have just as many for coffee.
See also: amount, have, snow, word
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • (someone) could sell sawdust to a lumber mill
  • lumber
  • sawdust
  • (someone) could sell an icebox to an Eskimo
  • (someone) could sell ice to Eskimos
  • talk (one's) way into (something or some place)
  • talk (one's) way out of (something)
  • talk way out of
  • talk your way out of something/out of doing something
  • smooth operator
References in periodicals archive
ESKIMO EXPRESS is based in Chertsey which gives very good access to the motorway network of the M25/M3/M4 with close proximity to Heathrow and Gatwick airports as well as quick access to routes in and out of the Capital.
A couple of teachers furnished turkeys and the type of food brought by the Eskimos did not surprise me.
The thinking might be that if they were not Inuit, then the use of the term "Eskimo" as the root of Paleo-Eskimo shouldn't matter.
Using 40 years of new information and research, a team of investigators set out to reexamine Bang and Dyerberg's study of Greenland Eskimos and CAD.
The pictures are beautiful; particularly the flames of a fire, the shadows cast by the trees, Little Eskimo's foot prints in the snow and the swirling sea.
Another ex-Duck quarterback, Jason Maas, played nine seasons with the Eskimos and helped lead them to two Grey Cups.
Nine-year-old Eskimo was shunned and picked on by other reindeer at Edinburgh Zoo.
It remains to be seen if he is good enough." Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Eskimo and Jackaroo "Jackaroo beat Eskimo over the trip when they made their debuts at Gowran Park before Eskimo went on to win nicely, again over seven furlongs, at Tipperary.
Ardahan's people are fishing by breaking the ices and making their lives with Eskimo fishing.
ONE EskimO is a music project that combines animation with songs.
INDIE band One Eskimo are playing a gig in Liverpool ahead of the release of their new album All Balloons.
The best winter planetary by far is NGC 2392, also known as the Eskimo Nebula.
a three foot eskimo that sparked a search operation has been returned safe and sound.
The World Eskimo Olympics began in 1961 as part of the fledgling Golden Days celebration, according to Ahsogeak.
ELECTRO favourites ESKIMO DISCO, who feature Yarm-born frontman Scott Doran on vocals, are back in the area tomorrow.