fire sale

/'faiə'seil/

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Word: Fire Sale

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A "fire sale" refers to a sale of goods or assets at very low prices. This usually happens when a business is in financial trouble or facing bankruptcy. The term originally referred to sales of items that were damaged by fire, but now it is commonly used in a broader sense.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "fire sale" when talking about a situation where items are sold quickly and at reduced prices, often to clear inventory or because the seller needs money urgently.

Example:

• "The store is having a fire sale to get rid of old stock before the new items arrive."

Advanced Usage:

• In a business context, you might say, "The company held a fire sale to liquidate its remaining assets after filing for bankruptcy."

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "fire sale," but related terms include:
  • Liquidation sale: A sale of inventory at reduced prices, often due to a business closing.
  • Closeout sale: A sale to sell off remaining stock.

Different Meanings:

• While "fire sale" primarily refers to selling items at low prices due to financial issues, it can also be used metaphorically for any situation where something is being sold quickly and cheaply.

Synonyms:

• Liquidation sale
• Clearance sale
• Bargain sale

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• To sell off: This means to sell something, often at a lower price, usually in a hurry. Example: "They need to sell off their inventory before the end of the month."
• Clear out: To remove items from a place, often by selling them. Example: "They are trying to clear out old merchandise with a fire sale."

Summary:

A fire sale is an urgent sale of goods at low prices, often because the seller is in financial trouble.

Academic

Noun

1. a sale of merchandise supposedly damaged by fire
2. a sale of assets at very low prices typically when the seller faces bankruptcy