foist
- foist
-
transitive verb
Etymology: probably from obsolete Dutch vuisten to take into one's hand, from Middle Dutch vuysten, from vuyst fist; akin to Old English fȳst fist
Date: circa 1587
1.
a. to introduce or insert surreptitiously or without warrant
b. to force another to accept especially by stealth or deceit
2. to pass off as genuine or worthy <
foist costly and valueless products on the public — Jonathan Spivak
>
New Collegiate Dictionary.
2001.
Synonyms:
Look at other dictionaries:
foist — [ fɔıst ] verb foist ,on or foist u,pon phrasal verb transitive usually passive foist something on/upon someone to force someone to accept or deal with something that they do not want: Voters are tired of new regulations foisted on them by… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
foist on — foist (something) on (someone) to force someone to accept or experience something. We even foist junk food on children in school cafeterias. Usage notes: sometimes in the form foist something off on someone: You cannot foist this ridiculous plan… … New idioms dictionary
foist — has meanings similar to fob off, but it is not followed by off and is not used in this meaning with a person as its object; you can foist something on someone but you cannot foist someone (off) with something: • I can t go around the house… … Modern English usage
foist on — ˈfoist ˌon ˈfoist u ˌpon [transitive] usually passive [present tense I/you/we/they foist on he/she/it foists on present participle … Useful english dictionary
Foist — (foist), n. [OF. fuste stick, boat, fr. L. fustis cudgel. Cf. 1st {Fust}.] A light and fast sailing ship. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Foist — Foist, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Foisted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Foisting}.] [Cf. OD. vysten to fizzle, D. veesten, E. fizz, fitchet, bullfist.] To insert surreptitiously, wrongfully, or without warrant; to interpolate; to pass off (something spurious or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
foist — [fɔɪst] verb foist something on/upon somebody phrasal verb [transitive] to force someone to accept or deal with something that they do not want: • Decisions have been foisted on the staff by the board of directors. • I keep getting work foisted… … Financial and business terms
foist — [fɔıst] v foist on/upon [foist sth on/upon sb] phr v [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: Probably from early modern Dutch vuisten to take into your hands , from Middle Dutch vuyst fist ] to force someone to accept or have to deal with something that they… … Dictionary of contemporary English
Foist — Foist, n. 1. A foister; a sharper. [Obs.] B. Jonson. [1913 Webster] 2. A trick or fraud; a swindle. [Obs.] B. Jonson. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
foist — foist·er; foist; … English syllables
foist — ► VERB (foist on) ▪ impose (an unwelcome person or thing) on. ORIGIN originally in the sense «dishonestly manipulate a dice»: from Dutch dialect vuisten take in the hand … English terms dictionary