- sell
- sellW1S1 [sel] v past tense and past participle sold [səuld US sould]▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(give something for money)¦2¦(make something available)¦3¦(make somebody want something)¦4¦(be bought)¦5 sell like hot cakes6¦(idea/plan)¦7 sell yourself8 sell somebody/something short9 sell your soul (to the devil)10 sell somebody down the river11 sell your votePhrasal verbssell something<=>offsell outsell up▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[: Old English; Origin: sellan]1.) ¦(GIVE SOMETHING FOR MONEY)¦ [I and T]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.sell sth for £100/$50/30p etc▪ Toni's selling her car for £700.sell sb sth▪ I won't sell you my shares!sell sth to sb▪ The vase was sold to a Dutch buyer.sell sth at a profit/loss(=make or lose money on a sale)▪ Tony had to sell the business at a loss.2.) ¦(MAKE SOMETHING AVAILABLE)¦ [I and T]to offer something for people to buy▪ Do you sell cigarettes?▪ a job selling advertising spacesell at/for £100/$50/30p etc(=be offered for sale at £100/$50/30p etc)▪ Smoke alarms sell for as little as five pounds.3.) ¦(MAKE SOMEBODY WANT SOMETHING)¦ [T]to make people want to buy something▪ Scandal sells newspapers.sell sth to sb▪ The car's new design will help sell it to consumers.4.) ¦(BE BOUGHT)¦ [I and T]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.sell well/badly(=be bought by a lot of people, or very few people)▪ Anti-age creams always sell well.5.) sell like hot cakesto sell quickly and in large amounts6.) ¦(IDEA/PLAN)¦ [I and T]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?sell sth to sb▪ It's hard for any government to sell new taxes to the electorate.sell sb sth▪ managers selling employees the new working hoursbe sold on (doing) sth(=think an idea or plan is very good)▪ Joe's completely sold on the concept.7.) sell yourselfa) to make yourself seem impressive to other people▪ If you want a promotion, you've got to sell yourself better.b) also sell your bodyto have sex with someone for money8.) sell sb/sth shortto not give someone or something the praise, attention, or reward that they deserve▪ Don't sell yourself short - tell them about all your qualifications.9.) sell your soul (to the devil)to agree to do something bad in exchange for money, power etc10.) sell sb down the riverto do something that harms a group of people who trusted you, in order to gain money or power for yourself11.) sell your voteAmE to take money from someone who wants you to vote for a particular person or plansell off [sell sth<=>off] phr v1.) 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 try to sell off any leftover cakes before we close.2.) to sell all or part of an industry or company▪ The Leicestershire company has sold off many of its smaller branches to cut debts.sell out phr v1.) if a shop sells out of something, it has no more of that particular thing left to sellbe/have sold out▪ Sorry, we're sold out.sell out of▪ We've completely sold out of those shirts in your size, sir.2.) if products, tickets for an event etc sell out, they are all sold and there are none left▪ Wow! Those cakes sold out fast.be/have 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 businessmen4.) to sell your business or your share in a business▪ Wyman says he'll sell out if business doesn't pick up.sell out to▪ The T-mail Co. has sold out to San Jose-based DMX Inc for an undisclosed sum.sell up phr vto sell most of what you own, especially your house or your business▪ Liz decided to sell up and move abroad.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
