bill of goods
noun phrase
1
: a consignment of merchandise
2
: something intentionally misrepresented : something passed off in a deception or fraud
—often used in the phrase sell a bill of goods
Examples of bill of goods in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Disappointed attendees have taken to social media in the wake of the three-day event, griping that they were sold a bill of goods.
—
Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
We were being sold a bill of goods.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The owner sold us a bill of goods.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 10 Dec. 2025
We’ve been sold a bill of goods.
—Gregory J Rummo, Sun Sentinel, 10 Aug. 2025
We’ve been sold a bill of goods.
—Gregory J. Rummo, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
But they have been sold a bill of goods regardless.
—The Editors, National Review, 25 June 2025
The schtick is fast-talking facts and plenty of jokes about the companies and people and concepts that are, in one way or another, selling a bill of goods.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
Student loan borrowers have been sold a bill of goods for years.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 23 Apr. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
We were being sold a bill of goods.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The owner sold us a bill of goods.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 10 Dec. 2025
We’ve been sold a bill of goods.
—Gregory J Rummo, Sun Sentinel, 10 Aug. 2025
We’ve been sold a bill of goods.
—Gregory J. Rummo, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
But they have been sold a bill of goods regardless.
—The Editors, National Review, 25 June 2025
The schtick is fast-talking facts and plenty of jokes about the companies and people and concepts that are, in one way or another, selling a bill of goods.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
Student loan borrowers have been sold a bill of goods for years.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bill of goods.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bill%20of%20goods. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
