The idiom "fell off the back of a lorry" is a slang expression used in British English to describe goods that are believed to be stolen or acquired illegally. It is often used humorously to suggest that someone has obtained something without paying for it or through dubious means.
The phrase originates from the idea that stolen goods would be transported in the back of a lorry (a large truck) and that some of the items might accidentally fall off during transit. However, it is now used more broadly to describe any situation where something seems suspicious or questionable.
For example, if someone is wearing expensive designer clothes but claims to have bought them for a very low price, you might say "Did those clothes fall off the back of a lorry?" to suggest that they might be stolen or counterfeit.
Overall, the phrase is used to imply that something is not quite right or that someone is being dishonest. It is a playful way of suggesting that someone might be up to no good without directly accusing them of anything.
• My friend always says he got his new TV for cheap, but I suspect it fell off the back of a lorry. (past simple tense)
• The police caught a group of thieves who were selling goods that had fallen off the back of a lorry. (present perfect tense)
• The lawyer argued that his client had no idea the goods had fallen off the back of a lorry and thus was not guilty of theft. (present continuous tense)
• The journalist uncovered a scandal where the company was selling products that had fallen off the back of a lorry. (past perfect tense)
• I saw a man selling watches that fell off the back of a lorry. (simple present tense)
• I don't think this designer bag is authentic, it looks like it fell off the back of a lorry. (conditional tense)