1 C1 idiomatic informal
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."
inseparable
pawn off as
C1 informal inseparable transitive
to present something falsely as being of a better or different kind
In plain English
to try to make people believe something is something else
What does "pawn off as" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to push something away and label it as something else
Actually means
to try to make people believe something is something else
Usage tip
Usually used in the pattern 'pawn something off as something'. Strongly suggests dishonesty or fakery.
Words that pair with "pawn off as"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
original antique fact joke masterpiece evidence
How to conjugate "pawn off as"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "pawn off as" in the wild
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Other ways to say "pawn off as"
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