Phrase guide

palm off

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To sell or dispose of (something) with the intent to deceive; to attempt to pass off a counterfeit or inferior product as genuine.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pawn off, pass off, foist, fob off, unload, offload

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

sell as genuine, sell with the intention to deceive

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: foist off, fob off

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sell

History

Etymology

“Palming” an object (as in a playing card) is a type of sleight of hand, secretly removing the desired article and leaving only the undesired one.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: sırımaq — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive
  • Dutch: opdringen — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive
  • Dutch: opzadelen met — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive
  • Finnish: panna kiertoon — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive
  • French: refourguer — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive
  • French: refiler — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive
  • Italian: sbolognare — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive
  • Polish: opylać — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive
  • Polish: wciskać — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive
  • Russian: всучи́вать (vsučívatʹ) — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive
  • Russian: сбыва́ть (sbyvátʹ) — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive
  • Russian: подсо́вывать (podsóvyvatʹ) — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive
  • Russian: сба́гривать (sbágrivatʹ) — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive
  • Ottoman Turkish: صاتمق (satmak) — to sell or dispose of something with the intent to deceive