tally-shop
Definition
Noun: A "tally-shop" refers to a shop where goods are sold on credit, with payments made in installments. The term historically describes a retail establishment that keeps a tally (a record or account) of purchases and payments, allowing customers to pay over time rather than upfront.
Usage Examples
- (A shop selling goods on credit with installment payments.)
- (Shops that offered credit for purchases.)
Advanced Usage
"to run a tally-shop": to operate a business that sells goods on credit.
- The merchant ran a tally-shop that served the community for decades. (He managed a credit-based store.)
"tally-shop system": the practice or method of selling goods on installment credit.
- The tally-shop system was common in industrial towns where workers had irregular incomes. (The credit installment method.)
Variants and Related Words
Tally (n): a record or account of items or amounts.
- The shopkeeper kept a tally of all purchases. (A written record.)
Tallyman (n): a person who keeps a tally, especially one who collects payments for a tally-shop.
- The tallyman visited every Friday to collect the weekly payments. (The credit collector.)
Synonyms
- Credit shop: a store that allows customers to buy now and pay later.
- Installment store: a shop where goods are paid for in regular partial payments.
- Pawnshop (distinct but related): a shop where items are exchanged for loans, not credit sales.
Related Idioms
"On the tally": buying on credit or installment.
- They bought the furniture on the tally, paying a little each month. (Purchased using credit.)
"To keep a tally": to maintain a running count or record.
- He kept a tally of all sales in his ledger. (He recorded each transaction.)