as in to wish
to offer (something fake, useless, or inferior) as genuine, useful, or valuable
people who try to fob off to charities broken-down furniture that is fit only for the junkyard
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Recent Examples of fob off
Not only does Israel not have spare luxury jets lying around to fob off on the American president, but the country took nine years to retrofit and launch its own version of Air Force One, and the process was a national fiasco.
—
Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025
But despite previous transparency around the cost-cutting measures, employees inquiring about how the budget cuts have impacted their performance review will now be fobbed off.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2023
Most chose instead to fob off the hard decisions to central bankers.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2021
Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025
But despite previous transparency around the cost-cutting measures, employees inquiring about how the budget cuts have impacted their performance review will now be fobbed off.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2023
Most chose instead to fob off the hard decisions to central bankers.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fob off
Verb
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In some brands and industries, giving franchisees a higher than usual degree of autonomy and flexibility may work well, whilst in others the franchisor may wish to retain a significant level of control over many aspects of the business.—
Fiona Simpson,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Admission will be free, but individuals wishing to park at the fairgrounds will have a $10 parking fee.—
Alyssa Cooper,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 June 2025
Verb
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Scott passed off his drink to pose for a slew of photos that lit up the dark bar area with flash.—
Emily Burns,
Footwear News,
9 June 2025
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The Trump administration's CIA reported earlier in 2025 that a lab leak was the likely origin of the COVID-19 virus, which had been passed off by media outlets and scientists as a likely conspiracy theory during the early days of the pandemic.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Attempting to assault a federal officer and inflict bodily injury is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2025
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Jurors, who deliberated for about a day, also rejected sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury on his accusers.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Flight restrictions imposed after flare-ups between Iran and Israel last year were short-lived, Sobie said.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
21 June 2025
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In 2019, lawmakers passed an amendment that also imposed the 30-day limit on semiautomatic rifle purchases.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 June 2025
Verb
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The unique shape helps keep your palm off the table while offering a spot for your thumb to rest.—
Brenda Stolyar,
Wired News,
9 May 2025
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And there’s an art to delegating, without seemingly palming off work to your team.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2023
Verb
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One of the others mimed palming the girl’s rear while the third snapped a photo.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
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With his feet still inside the penalty area, but his right arm extended beyond its edge, Henderson took the ball almost off Haaland’s foot and palmed it away from his goal, towards the touchline.—
Matt Pyzdrowski,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fob off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fob%20off. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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