What it means
To fob someone off is to get them off your back with a weak excuse, a vague promise, or some rubbish substitute instead of actually sorting the problem. It’s the classic move when customer service, landlords, or dodgy businesses try to make you go away without giving you what you’re really owed.
Usage examples
"Customer service tried to fob me off with a dodgy refurbished phone, so I kicked off and asked for a proper new one, mate."
"Do not let them fob you off with a voucher, you are entitled to a full refund."
"He keeps fobbing me off with excuses instead of just fixing it."
"The landlord tried to fob us off with some waffle about the boiler, but the flat was still freezing."
"She rang the helpline twice and got fobbed off both times with we'll look into it later."
Where it comes from
It comes from the older English noun fob, which meant a cheat, trick, or bit of deceptive nonsense. By the 1600s, fob off was already being used for pushing someone away with fake assurances or unloading something inferior on them. It’s long-standing British English and still thrives in everyday grumbling.
