foist
- foist
foist (
v.) 1540s, from
Du. vuisten "
take in hand," from
M.Du. vuist "
fist" (see
FIST (
Cf. fist)). Earliest sense was cheating at dice by concealing a loaded one in the palm of the hand with the intention of introducing it into play; meaning "
introduce surreptitiously" is from 1560s. Related:
Foisted;
foisting.
Etymology dictionary.
2014.
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