pawn off as
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To make a person or thing appear to be different than their true nature in order to fool someone else.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
We'll pawn this necklace off as real gold, and make a fortune.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “pawn off as” mean?
To make a person or thing appear to be different than their true nature in order to fool someone else.
Is “pawn off as” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.