fallen off the back of a lorry
Suspiciously cheap goods
Fallen off the back of a lorry is British slang for goods that are stolen or acquired through dubious means.
The phrase provides a thin fiction—if someone asks where you got that suspiciously cheap television, you might say it fell off the back of a lorry.
The American equivalent uses "truck." The expression often carries a wink, acknowledging that everyone knows the true origin.
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- no questions askedWithout requiring explanation
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- ill-gotten gainsWealth obtained dishonestly
- theftUnlawful taking of property
fencing · black market · grey market · under the table · cash in hand · pilfering · fraud · off the books · burglary · racketeering · dodgy · dodgy deal · bent copper · wholesale · job lot · knock-off · retail · stolen goods
fallen off the back of a lorrybought and paid for
Acquired through completed payment
above board · on the level · kosher · store-bought · legit
fallen off the back of a lorrytraceable
Able to be followed
catalogued · registered · pedigreed · on the record · declared