lumber

(someone) could sell sawdust to a lumber mill

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. I can't believe you were able to sell an extra 200 units to the hospital. You could sell sawdust to a lumber mill!
See also: could, lumber, mill, sawdust, sell

lumber along

To move forward in a heavy, plodding, and ungainly manner. The bear lumbered along awkwardly for a few steps after we hit it with the tranquilizer dart before it eventually crashed to the ground. I hate these tourists who lumber along the busy streets with their massive backpacks and suitcases, bumping into everyone and everything along the way.
See also: lumber

lumber off

To depart or head off in a heavy, plodding, and ungainly manner. I stood completely still until the bear finally lumbered off. The drunken sailor slurred some incomprehensible insults before lumbering off toward the bar.
See also: lumber, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

lumber along

to lope or walk along heavily and awkwardly. The horses were lumbering along very slowly because they were tired out. They were lumbering along, hoping to get there on time.
See also: lumber

lumber off

to move or lope away heavily and awkwardly. The frightened bear lumbered off, and we left in a hurry. He lumbered off, leaving us there alone.
See also: lumber, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • (someone) could sell sawdust to a lumber mill
  • Eskimo
  • 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
Dunn Lumber consists of three business segments: lumber and building materials, hardware and rental.
Spahn/Rose Lumber Acquires Wisconsin-based Dunn Lumber
It was also learned that the supply of lumber in the region has dropped because it will take years before private plantations are can harvest fully grown trees.
Crackdown on erring lumber dealers in E. Visayas stepped up
Mini-profiles, evaluating softwood timber resources, delivered log prices, lumber trade and softwood lumber export potential to the US market of Germany, Finland, Latvia, and Western Russia are also provided.
New Comprehensive Study: Future Suppliers of Softwood Lumber to the US Market - Demand and Supply Outlook to 2030
(1) Always choose "kiln-dried" framing lumber. Avoid the stuff labeled "S-GRN." The high moisture content will have triggered mold stains all over it.
Find Great Furniture Wood
Lumber One is in discussions with the tenant, iHeartRadio, about when it will leave the building.
Lumber One to Open at iHeart Media Site
It's been a slow, wet spring, and I think people Knew this was coming, so they had a little more lumber bought than normal."
Long-Term Impact of Tariffs on Canadian Lumber Unclear
Lumber production in North America in 2016 was up six per cent from the previous year, reaching its highest level since 2007.
Mena sees biggest lumber imports fall in 2016
In 2013, SPF Precut Lumber hosted the first-ever Canadian lumber grading seminar ever held in the Gulf region.
SPF Precut Lumber celebrates its silver anniversary in Dubai
The Oxford English Dictionary provides a definition of the lumber-room as a "room for the reception of lumber or disused chattels." The lumber-room is essentially a junk room, a space that stores heterogeneous materials that have fallen out of use but still represent a potential for future deployment.
A lumber-room of her own: attics in Pamela and Jane Eyre
He is connected to North Tonawanda, and its lumber industry, through his great grandfather, Raymond Thomas Jones, Sr., the founder and president of the R.
Actor Jeff Jones ties to NT acknowledged with sponsorship of NT History Museum
Depending on what you are trying to produce, (cabinets, flooring, mouldings, furniture, etc.), the standard FAS/IF and Common grades leave manufacturers with limited options to control lumber costs.
Ripping lumber: a look at the options available for ordering ripped hardwood lumber
For the purposes of this analysis, manufactured lumber is measured as green finished lumber; mill residue is the remaining portion of the log.
Trends in lumber processing in the western United States. Part III: residue recovered versus lumber produced
The amount of lumber being moved through America's intercity rail system suggests a stronger-than-witnessed housing recovery could be just around the corner, according to London-based economics research company Capital Economics.
Lumber Shipments Signal Stronger Than Expected Homebuilding Recovery
lumber industry has long argued that imports of subsidized Canadian lumber were injuring U.S.
U.S. imports of Canadian softwood lumber