pawn off
C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words
to give something you do not want to someone else
Literal meaning: to move something away as if disposing of it through a pawnshop
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
informal
to persuade someone to accept something unwanted or inferior
"He tried to pawn off his broken bike on his younger cousin."
Grammar: separable
2 C1
idiomatic
informal
to make someone else deal with a duty or responsibility that you do not want
"Don't pawn off your share of the project on the rest of us."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Usually negative. Common with unwanted objects, tasks, or responsibilities. Often followed by 'on' before the person receiving it in fuller forms.
Commonly used with
junk responsibility problem kids old car work
Forms
Base
pawn off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pawns off
he/she/it
Past simple
pawned off
yesterday
Past participle
pawned off
have + pp
-ing form
pawning off
continuous
Understand "pawn off" better
Try:
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Synonyms
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "pawn off" on Looplines