sell someone a pup

present singular third person sells someone a pup · participle present selling someone a pup · participle past sold someone a pup · past sold someone a pup

1. UKTo sell something of little worth, pretending that it is something else of greater value.

   Online dog lovers sold a pup [title]

   2009 July 31, “Online dog lovers sold a pup”, in Sydney Morning Herald

   4 more examples

   “Yes,” I agreed, “you undoubtedly sold him a pup. Precious mug he must have been to let you. But I suppose, as it was Saturday night, he was pretty busy.”

   1931, R. Austin Freeman, Pontifax, Son and Thorndyke, published 2003, page 31

   I don't know who sold him the gold prospectus, but whoever did, sold him a pup.

   2004, Henry De Vere Stacpoole, “Glued”, in The Slayer and Other Tales from the Pulps, page 99

   The document[…] reveals how Churchill complained that Duff had “sold him a pup” and let him think that “this place is a real bomb-proof shelter”.

   2009 July 20, Arifa Akbar, “Churchill felt he was ‘sold a pup’ of a bomb shelter, letter reveals”, in The Independent

   It hurt Henrietta to think that there was any area in which her husband did not excel, but if he had been anyone else she would have concluded that the dealer had sold him a pup.

   2011, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, Dynasty 22: The Mirage

   Synonyms: abuse, beglammer, counterfeit, deceive, catch, trap into, dissemble, dissimulate