1 B2 idiomatic informal
To dismiss someone who has a complaint or request by making weak excuses rather than addressing the problem.
"Every time I called customer service, they fobbed me off with the same scripted apology."
separable
fob off
B2 informal separable transitive
To get rid of someone by giving them something inferior, or to dismiss someone with poor excuses.
In plain English
Get rid of someone by giving them something bad instead of what they really wanted, or by making up excuses.
What does "fob off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To give someone something of poor quality or something they do not want, in place of what they actually asked for.
"The market trader tried to fob us off with damaged fruit at full price."
separable
Usage tip
Primarily used in British English. Often implies a degree of dishonesty or bad faith. Common in consumer contexts (being given a faulty replacement product) and interpersonal ones (being put off with a weak excuse). The construction is typically 'fob someone off with something.'
Words that pair with "fob off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
excuse inferior goods substitute platitude promise complaint
How to conjugate "fob off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
fob off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fobs off
he/she/it
Past simple
fobed off
yesterday
Past participle
fobed off
have + pp
-ing form
fobing off
continuous
Hear "fob off" in the wild
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