1. Historical Coin: This is the most literal meaning. A shilling was a British coin, now obsolete, worth 1/20 of a pound. It was also used in some other countries like Australia and New Zealand.
2. Promoting Something: This is the more common meaning today. Shilling refers to the act of promoting something (usually a product, service, or idea) in a way that seems genuine but is actually secretly paid for. This is often done by:
* Using fake or paid-for reviews: Writing positive reviews about a product that you were paid to write.
* Using social media influencers: Paying influencers to post about your product or service, without disclosing that they are being paid.
* Creating fake accounts and engaging in online marketing: Creating fake accounts to like, share, and comment on your content, giving the impression of genuine popularity.
3. Other Related Meanings:
* Shilling for someone: To act as a spokesperson or advocate for someone, especially in a biased or dishonest way.
* Shilling out: To pay money, often in a slangy way.
Examples:
* "The company was caught shilling for their new product by paying bloggers to write positive reviews."
* "He's shilling for the politician, trying to convince everyone that he's the best choice."
* "I'm going to have to shill out a lot of money to fix my car."
Essentially, shilling is about using deceptive or unethical methods to promote something, often for financial gain.