fub off
C1 formal separable transitive
In simple words
To trick someone or give them something worse than what they deserve.
Literal meaning: 'Fub' is an old word meaning to cheat or trick; 'off' suggests getting rid of someone.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
formal
To cheat or deceive someone, especially by giving them something of lesser value than promised.
"The merchant fubbed off his customers with counterfeit coins."
Grammar: separable
2 C1
idiomatic
formal
To dismiss or put someone off with a poor excuse or evasion.
"He tried to fub off the creditors with vague promises of future payment."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Extremely rare in modern English; found mostly in historical texts from the 16th–18th centuries. Effectively obsolete. Learners should use 'fob off' instead.
Commonly used with
customer complaint excuse inferior goods promise
Forms
Base
fub off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fubs off
he/she/it
Past simple
fubed off
yesterday
Past participle
fubed off
have + pp
-ing form
fubing off
continuous
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Synonyms
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