sell ice to Eskimos
Convince against logic
To sell ice to Eskimos is to persuade someone to buy something they clearly don't need, demonstrating extraordinary salesmanship or smooth-talking ability: That guy could sell ice to Eskimos.
The phrase captures both admiration for persuasive skill and skepticism about whether such talent serves honest purposes.
Sometimes used self-deprecatingly about unlikely sales pitches.
- coals to NewcastleFutile oversupply gesture
- silver tongueNatural persuasive ability
- persuadeCause to believe
- gift of gabNatural speaking ability
- closingFinal stage of something
too good to be true · snake oil salesman · social proof · salesmanship · upselling · foot in the door · sales pitch · influence · gilding the lily · convincing · buttering up · marketing · emotional appeal · pitch · charisma · advertising · proverbial · peddling
sell ice to Eskimospreach to the choir
Advocate to supporters already
no-brainer · low-hanging fruit · slam dunk · walk in the park · piece of cake
sell, sells, selling, seller, sellers, ices, iciest, iciness, Eskimo