pawn (something) off (on one) (as something else)
pawn (something) off (on one) (as something else)
To discard something unwanted by giving or selling it to one (under the pretense of it being something else). There are always guys pawning off cheap watches as Rolexes in this part of town. She tried to pawn off the crummy assignment on me as some kind of special challenge.
See also: off, pawn, something
pawn off
1. To deposit something to a pawnbroker as security for a financial loan. (In each usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "pawn" and "off.") I was forced to pawn off my car in order to pay my rent for the month. I couldn't bear the thought of pawning my jewelry off, but I was left with no other alternative.
2. To shift the burden of or responsibility for someone or something to another person or group. He always tries to pawn off the most tedious tasks on me just because I have slightly less experience in the company than him. I used to feel guilty about pawning my kids off to a daycare center during the week, but they love playing with the other kids, and it gave me the chance to get my career back on track.
3. To discard something unwanted by giving or selling it to someone else under false pretenses or by using other deceptive means. Often followed by "on." There are always guys pawning off cheap watches as Rolexes in this part of town. She tried to pawn off the crummy assignment on me as some kind of special challenge.
4. To misrepresent someone or oneself as being a different person from who they actually are. Often followed by "as." The movie revolves around her scheme of pawning off her lifelong friend as her husband during work events. The man was caught pawning himself off as his dead twin brother in order to collect social welfare payments in his name.
See also: off, pawn
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
pawn someone or something off
(on someone) (as someone or something) Go to palm someone or something off (on someone) (as someone or something).
See also: off, pawn
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
pawn off
Dispose of by deception, as in They tried to pawn off a rebuilt computer as new. This expression may have originated as a corruption of palm off, although it was also put as pawn upon in the 1700s, when it originated.
See also: off, pawn
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
pawn off
v.
To get rid of or dispose of something deceptively by misrepresenting its true value: The clerk tried to pawn off the fake gemstone as a diamond. They almost pawned the counterfeit bills off on unsuspecting tourists.
See also: off, pawn
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- pawn off
- palm (something) off (on one) (as something else)
- palm off
- palm someone/something off
- palm someone/something off on someone
- palm something off
- palm something off on someone
- throw (someone or something) on the scrap heap
- kick (someone or something) to the curb
- pitch into