be sold a bill of goods

To be led to believe that a lie is true; to be swindled or conned. So you told me you would study harder if I got you that new video game, but your grades got even worse. Looks like I've been sold a bill of goods! A: "He said he would sell my bike and bring me back the profits, but I haven't heard from him since." B: "Yeah, I think you've been sold a bill of goods." Boy, Mom sure was sold a bill of goods when she signed this landscaping contract. Instead of coming biweekly, the guy's only cut her lawn once in the last six months!

be sold a bill of goods

AMERICAN

If you are sold a bill of goods, you are deceived or told something that is not true. I began to realize that I'd been sold a bill of goods, that I wasn't in any way incompetent or lazy.