sell
Verb (transitive & intransitive):
- To exchange (a commodity or service) for money: The primary meaning is to give something to someone in return for payment.
- To promote or persuade someone to accept something: To convince someone of the value or desirability of an idea, plan, or product.
- To betray or be disloyal: To give up or hand over someone or something for personal gain or under pressure.
Noun (informal):
- An act or instance of selling: The process of persuading someone to buy.
- A disappointment or trick: A situation or item that is presented as good but turns out to be bad or disappointing.
Verb (transitive):
- She wants to sell her old car. (She wants to exchange her old car for money.)
- He sold his company for a large profit. (He exchanged ownership of his company for a large sum of money.)
- The politician was accused of selling his influence. (He was accused of betraying his duty for personal gain.)
Verb (intransitive):
- This model sells very well in Asia. (This model is exchanged for money frequently in Asia; it is popular.)
- If the price is right, the painting will sell quickly. (The painting will be exchanged for money quickly if the price is appropriate.)
Noun:
- The salesman made a difficult sell to the cautious client. (The salesman completed a difficult act of persuasion.)
- The concert was a real sell; the band played for only 20 minutes. (The concert was a disappointment.)
"To sell someone on something": To convince someone that an idea or plan is good.
- The manager sold the team on the new strategy. (The manager convinced the team of the new strategy's value.)
"To sell oneself": To promote one's own abilities, often in a job interview or similar context.
- You need to sell yourself during the interview. (You need to convincingly present your skills and value.)
"Sold out" (adjective): Having all tickets or items already purchased.
- The show is completely sold out. (All tickets for the show have been exchanged for money; none are left.)
Seller (n): A person or entity that sells something.
- She is a book seller. (Her job is to exchange books for money.)
Sale (n): The act or an instance of selling; a period when goods are offered at reduced prices.
- The sale of the house was finalized. (The exchange of the house for money was completed.)
- The store is having a big sale. (The store is offering goods at reduced prices.)
Best-seller (n): A product, especially a book, that sells in very large numbers.
- Her novel became an instant best-seller. (Her novel was exchanged for money in very large numbers immediately.)
- Vend: To offer for sale.
- Market: To promote or try to sell.
- Peddle: To sell goods, especially by traveling from place to place.
- Betray: To be disloyal (for the meaning of treachery).
Sell off: To sell something quickly and cheaply, often to get rid of it.
- The company sold off its old equipment. (The company exchanged its old equipment for money quickly, likely at a low price.)
Sell out (of something): To have sold all available items.
- We have sold out of tickets. (We have exchanged all tickets for money; none remain.)
Sell out (to someone/something): To abandon one's principles for personal gain.
- Many fans felt the band sold out when they signed with a major label. (Fans felt the band betrayed their original principles for money or fame.)
Sell like hotcakes: To be sold very quickly and in large quantities.
- The new smartphone is selling like hotcakes. (The new smartphone is being exchanged for money very rapidly.)
Sell someone down the river: To betray someone, especially for personal advantage.
- He sold his partner down the river to get the promotion. (He betrayed his partner to gain the promotion for himself.)
Hard sell: An aggressive or high-pressure sales technique.
- The customer disliked the salesman's hard sell. (The customer disliked the aggressive persuasion.)
- the activity of persuading someone to buy
- it was a hard sell
- deliver to an enemy by treachery
- Judas sold Jesus
- The spy betrayed his country
- be responsible for the sale of
- All her publicity sold the products
- be approved of or gain acceptance
- The new idea sold well in certain circles
- give up for a price or reward
- She sold her principles for a successful career
- do business; offer for sale as for one's livelihood
- She deals in gold
- The brothers sell shoes
- persuade somebody to accept something
- The French try to sell us their image as great lovers
- be sold at a certain price or in a certain way
- These books sell like hot cakes
- exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
- He sold his house in January
- She sells her body to survive and support her drug habit