sell ice to Eskimos: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    North AmericaUKGlobalinformalcolloquialidiomaticpotentially offensive
    • To persuade someone to buy something that they do not need or that is redundant for them; to be an extremely effective or persuasive salesperson.
    • To succeed in convincing people to accept or purchase something despite minimal necessity or obvious impracticality.

    Examples

    Beta
    • Jason is such a skilled salesperson, he could sell ice to Eskimos even in the middle of winter.

      Jason is such a skilled salesperson, he could sell ice to Eskimos even in the middle of winter.

    • When we hired Linda, we knew she could sell ice to Eskimos because of her impressive persuasion skills.

      When we hired Linda, we knew she could sell ice to Eskimos because of her impressive persuasion skills.

    • If you think this product is unnecessary, just wait until Mike tries to sell ice to Eskimos with his pitch.

      If you think this product is unnecessary, just wait until Mike tries to sell ice to Eskimos with his pitch.

  • 2.

    North AmericaUKGlobalinformalcolloquialbraggadocious
    • A boastful claim of exceptional persuasive ability or salesmanship.

    Examples

    Beta
    • He bragged that he could sell ice to Eskimos, claiming no one was better at closing deals than him.

      He bragged that he could sell ice to Eskimos, claiming no one was better at closing deals than him.

    • During the interview, the candidate boasted about selling ice to Eskimos as proof of her sales talent.

      During the interview, the candidate boasted about selling ice to Eskimos as proof of her sales talent.

    • They say you must be able to sell ice to Eskimos to succeed in this industry, and Tom certainly fits that description.

      They say you must be able to sell ice to Eskimos to succeed in this industry, and Tom certainly fits that description.

Examples:

  • EN: I can sell ice to Eskimos!
    ES: Soy capaz de vender hielo a un esquimal.
    ES: Soy capaz de vender hielo a un esquimal.
  • EN: Charlie Mannman says that I can sell ice to Eskimos. In a blizzard, that's what he says.
    ES: Mi jefe dice que yo hasta le vendería hielo a los esquimales
  • EN: My dad. He could sell ice to Eskimos.
    ES: Mi papá... podía venderle hielo a los esquimales.
  • EN: He could sell ice to Eskimos.
    ES: Podía venderles hielo a los esquimales.
  • EN: Don't try to sell ice to Eskimos.
    HI: 🦁हम को खरीदने 💲की कोशिश मत करना,
    TE: ఎస్కిమోస్ కు స్నో బాల్స్ ప్రయత్నించండి మరియు విక్రయించవద్దు.

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Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

sell ice to Eskimos | Idiomator