payer en monnaie de singe

French

Etymology

Literally, “to pay someone in monkey money”, i.e. in false money; see monnaie de singe.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɛ.je ɑ̃ mɔ.nɛ d(ə) sɛ̃ʒ/, /pe.je ɑ̃ mɔ.nɛ d(ə) sɛ̃ʒ/

• Audio (Lyon):

  (file)

Verb

payer en monnaie de singe

1. (figuratively) to swindle someone; to tell someone to go whistle for it

   Synonyms: escroquer, rouler, arnaquer

See also

• espèces sonnantes et trébuchantes
• rubis sur l’ongle