off the back of a truck
1
used for saying that a free or unreasonably cheap product is not obtained legally
The idiom "off the back of a truck" originated from the idea of stolen or illegally obtained goods being sold or acquired from the back of a truck. It is often used in informal conversations, particularly when discussing items that appear suspicious or are obtained without proper documentation or authorization. The phrase is used to convey a sense of skepticism or doubt about the legitimacy of the goods in question.
- He often buys goods off the back of a truck, even though he knows they might be stolen.
- The street vendor is currently selling merchandise off the back of a truck, attracting curious customers.
- People sometimes purchase electronics off the back of a truck, unaware of their questionable origin.
- Last week, he bought a TV off the back of a truck, only to find out it was defective and likely stolen.
- They discovered a hidden stash of merchandise that was sold off the back of a truck in an illegal operation.