Dictionary

sell someone a pup en · VERB

Etymology

From an old swindle, where one would be sold a bag purportedly containing a piglet, but actually containing a puppy. Compare pig in a poke.

Meanings

1. (UK) To sell something of little worth, pretending that it is something else of greater value.
   • Online dog lovers sold a pup [title] 2009 July 31, “Online dog lovers sold a pup”, in Sydney Morning Herald:
   • I don't know who sold him the gold prospectus, but whoever did, sold him a pup. 2004, Henry De Vere Stacpoole, “Glued”, in The Slayer and Other Tales from the Pulps, page 99:
   • It hurt Henrietta to think that there was any area in which her husband did not excel, but if he had been anyone else she would have concluded that the dealer had sold him a pup. 2011, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, Dynasty 22: The Mirage:
   • “Yes,” I agreed, “you undoubtedly sold him a pup. Precious mug he must have been to let you. But I suppose, as it was Saturday night, he was pretty busy.” 1931, R. Austin Freeman, Pontifax, Son and Thorndyke, published 2003, page 31:
   • The document[…] reveals how Churchill complained that Duff had “sold him a pup” and let him think that “this place is a real bomb-proof shelter”. 2009 July 20, Arifa Akbar, “Churchill felt he was ‘sold a pup’ of a bomb shelter, letter reveals”, in The Independent:

Forms

Relateds

let the cat out of the bag · pig in a poke · buy a pup · sell someone a bill of goods

Synonyms

spoof · jiff · overreach · dissimulate · counterfeit · deceive · trick · put on · beglammer · catch · lead astray · dissemble · trap into · abuse · feign · sham

Translations (6)

pt vender gato por lebre (to swindle) · pl sprzedać kota w worku (to swindle) · es dar gato por liebre (to swindle) · gl dar gato por lebre (to swindle) · ca donar gat per llebre (to swindle) · pl sprzedawać kota w worku (to swindle)