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# fell off the back of a lorry

phrase (verb phrase: fall off the back of a lorry, falls, fell, fallen, falling; UK, Ireland, Australia)

«fell off the back of a lorry» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, UK, humorous) was stolen, or was got cheaply from a dodgy source.
2. (literal) dropped from the back of a lorry (a large goods truck).

### In the lessons

British joking cover for stolen goods, common in comedy shows, pubs and gossip; everyday slang, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand. Same as US «fell off a truck».

### Examples

- "Where did you get that new laptop?" "It fell off the back of a lorry."
- Half the stuff at that car boot sale fell off the back of a lorry.
- Everyone knew the cheap perfume had fallen off the back of a lorry.
- In the sitcom, the market trader sells things that fell off the back of a lorry.
- Don't buy trainers that fell off the back of a lorry; they could be stolen or fake.
- A load of cabbages actually fell off the back of a lorry on the motorway.
- Grandad laughed and said his old radio fell off the back of a lorry years ago.
- Police are looking for TVs that "fell off the back of a lorry".

### Note

Trap: a lorry is the British word for a truck. Usually not literal; it hints at theft. Buying stolen goods is a crime. Plain word: stolen.