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  1. Home /
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  3. English Dictionary /
  4. buy a dud

buy a dud

/baɪ ə dʌd/
purchase something worthless or defective

I bought a dud of a laptop that stopped working after a week.

The laptop was defective and stopped working quickly.


informal

To purchase something that turns out to be worthless, defective, or of poor quality

He bought a dud car that kept breaking down.

The car was unreliable and frequently needed repairs.

Be careful when buying electronics online to avoid dud products.

Avoid purchasing defective or low-quality electronics.

The term is often used in informal contexts, especially when referring to purchases that don't meet expectations.

Collocations

buy a dudpurchase something defective or worthless

Synonyms

buy a lemonpurchase a defective itemget a bad deal

Antonyms

buy a quality itempurchase a reliable product

Related Phrases

a lemonphrase
a defective or unreliable product
a bad dealphrase
an unfavorable purchase

Pro Tip

Avoiding duds

Research products and read reviews before purchasing to minimize the risk of buying a dud.

Gold Rule

Consumer rights

If you buy a dud, check the return policy and warranty to see if you can get a refund or replacement.

Word Origin

The term 'dud' originally referred to a firework or explosive that failed to go off. Over time, it came to mean anything that fails to perform as expected, including products.

Usage Notes

This phrase is commonly used in casual conversation to describe a disappointing purchase. It can apply to various items, from electronics to vehicles.

Word Breakdown

buy
to purchase
root
+
a
an indefinite article
article
+
dud
something defective or worthless
root
English Dictionary
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