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
Whether out of pride, ideological zeal or an instinct to haggle for even the tiniest advantage, Iranian leaders will be tempted to stall — to drag out negotiations, fob off the U.S. with flashy promises and try to trip up their American counterparts in highly technical details.
—
Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 26 Feb. 2026
Your potential clients are terrified of being sold the dream then fobbed off to a junior team member.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
While attempting to film his daughter's dance, Miguel Angel Michel, 66, couldn't control his feet and eventually fobbed off his phone altogether, earning 4.2 million views on TikTok.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
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
Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 26 Feb. 2026
Your potential clients are terrified of being sold the dream then fobbed off to a junior team member.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
While attempting to film his daughter's dance, Miguel Angel Michel, 66, couldn't control his feet and eventually fobbed off his phone altogether, earning 4.2 million views on TikTok.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fob off
Verb
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For those who wish to remain and shelter in place, the embassy reminded them to have a supply of food, water, medications and other essential items.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
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Those who wished to see Garner clad in fishnets and rubber bracelets as the Material Girl will still have a chance.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Adam Gordon, the book’s protagonist, is always passing off someone else’s language as his own.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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Stamkos notched his third goal in two games by redirecting Forsberg's pinpoint pass off the right post and in.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Recent strikes have inflicted significant damage on energy infrastructure in the region, with a recent attack wiping out 17% of output at Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG plants, damage that would take years to recover.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
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This online collection included images of mutilation and tying up women with ropes, two things prosecutors said are consistent with injuries inflicted on Mack and how she was bound, officials said.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Armed groups impose rules, enforce discipline and punish violations with violence.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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The growing apathy toward big-screen entertainment was also owed to the patina of all-American wholesomeness that studios imposed on their stables of stars, and the nothing-to-see-here style of movie journalism was wearing thin.—
Joshua John Miller,
Vanity Fair,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While other firms have trimmed entry-level hiring as AI takes over the admin tasks normally palmed off to younger workers, EY is actively investing in early-career talent.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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Back in the team after injury, Neuer made strong saves in the first half but blundered for Freiburg's second, leaping out of his goal to palm a corner straight to Freiburg striker Lucas Höler for an easy second.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
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The left hand pointing down, palm out, displays the varadamudra (giving gesture, a kind of mudra).—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fob off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fob%20off. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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