Topic: BUSINESS BASICS
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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | sellan |
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sell S1 W1
past tense and past participle sold
past tense and past participle sold1 to give something to someone in exchange for money [≠ buy]: If you offer him another hundred, I think he'll sell. He regrets selling all his old records.
give something for money
[intransitive and transitive]BBIf you offer him another hundred, I think he'll sell.He regrets selling all his old records. sell something at a profit/loss (=make or lose money on a sale) Tony had to sell the business at a loss.
Tony had to sell the business at a loss.2 to offer something for people to buy : Do you sell cigarettes? a job selling advertising space
make something available
[intransitive and transitive]BBDo you sell cigarettes?a job selling advertising space sell at/for £100/$50/30p etc (=be offered for sale at £100/$50/30p etc) Smoke alarms sell for as little as five pounds.
Smoke alarms sell for as little as five pounds.3 to make people want to buy something : Scandal sells newspapers.
make somebody want something
[transitive]Scandal sells newspapers. sell something to somebody The car's new design will help sell it to consumers.
The car's new design will help sell it to consumers.4 to be bought by people : Tickets for the concert just aren't selling. Her last book sold millions of copies. All the new houses have been sold.
be bought
[intransitive and transitive]BBTickets for the concert just aren't selling.Her last book sold millions of copies.All the new houses have been sold. sell well/badly (=be bought by a lot of people, or very few people) Anti-age creams always sell well.
Anti-age creams always sell well.6 to try to make someone accept a new idea or plan, or to become accepted : It's all right for Washington, but will it sell in small-town America?
idea/plan
[intransitive and transitive]It's all right for Washington, but will it sell in small-town America? sell something to somebody It's hard for any government to sell new taxes to the electorate.
It's hard for any government to sell new taxes to the electorate. sell somebody something managers selling employees the new working hours
managers selling employees the new working hours be sold on (doing) something (=think an idea or plan is very good) Joe's completely sold on the concept.
Joe's completely sold on the concept.7
sell yourself
a) to make yourself seem impressive to other people : If you want a promotion, you've got to sell yourself better.
If you want a promotion, you've got to sell yourself better.b) also sell your body to have sex with someone for money
8 to not give someone or something the praise, attention, or reward that they deserve : Don't sell yourself short - tell them about all your qualifications.
sell somebody/something short
Don't sell yourself short - tell them about all your qualifications.10 to do something that harms a group of people who trusted you, in order to gain money or power for yourself
sell somebody down the river
11 to take money from someone who wants you to vote for a particular person or plan
sell your vote
American Englishsell something ↔ off
phrasal verb1 to sell something, especially for a cheap price, because you need the money or because you want to get rid of it : After the war, we had to sell off part of the farm. We sell off leftover cakes before we close.
After the war, we had to sell off part of the farm.We sell off leftover cakes before we close.2BB to sell all or part of an industry or company : The Leicestershire company has sold off many of its smaller branches to cut debts.
The Leicestershire company has sold off many of its smaller branches to cut debts.sell out
phrasal verb1BBT if a shop sells out of something, it has no more of that particular thing left to sell
2AP if products, tickets for an event etc sell out, they are all sold and there are none left : Wow! Those cakes sold out fast.
Wow! Those cakes sold out fast. be/have sold out Tonight's performance is completely sold out.
Tonight's performance is completely sold out.3 to change your beliefs or principles, especially in order to get more money or some other advantage - used to show disapproval : ex-hippies who've sold out and become respectable businessmen
ex-hippies who've sold out and become respectable businessmen4BFS to sell your business or your share in a business : Wyman says he'll sell out if business doesn't pick up.
Wyman says he'll sell out if business doesn't pick up.sell up
phrasal verbLiz decided to sell up and move abroad.