pawn off as

C1 informal inseparable transitive

In simple words

to try to make people believe something is something else

Literal meaning: to push something away and label it as something else

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic informal

common

to dishonestly present something as if it were genuine, valuable, or of a different type

"The dealer tried to pawn the copy off as an original painting."

Grammar: inseparable

Usage notes

Usually used in the pattern 'pawn something off as something'. Strongly suggests dishonesty or fakery.

original antique fact joke masterpiece evidence

Base

pawn off as

I/you/we/they

3rd person

pawns off as

he/she/it

Past simple

pawned off as

yesterday

Past participle

pawned off as

have + pp

-ing form

pawning off as

continuous

Try:

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pass off as misrepresent as present as pose as sell as

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