buy a pup
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To buy something that ultimately proves to be worth nothing or less than promised.
Register: dated, slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “buy a pup” mean?
To buy something that ultimately proves to be worth nothing or less than promised.
Is “buy a pup” formal or informal?
buy a pup is generally dated, slang.