sell out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sell out" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to quickly exhaust the available supply of goods, services, or tickets (i.e. quickly sell everything), or to be unfaithful to one's principles in exchange for personal gain. For example, "The concert tickets sold out in record time. Everyone knew it was going to be popular, but we didn't anticipate it selling out so quickly!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

They sell out instantly.

The New York Times

Tickets sell out fast.

The New York Times - Travel

They sell out every game.

The New York Times - Sports

Many sell out within minutes.

The New York Times

Sell out for profit.

The New York Times

Now we sell out".

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Sell-out or seer?

The Guardian

Hawks see this as a sell-out.

The Economist

Last year's game was a sell-out.

The Economist

When is a sell-out not a sell-out?

The Guardian - Film

Is it populist or a sell-out?

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sell out" to describe situations where demand quickly exhausts supply, or when someone compromises their values for personal gain. Be mindful of the context to ensure the intended meaning is clear.

Common error

Avoid using "sell out" casually without understanding its strong negative connotation when referring to someone's principles. The term implies a significant moral compromise.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sell out" is as a phrasal verb. It is used to indicate the complete exhaustion of a product or service's availability through sales, or figuratively, to describe the act of compromising one's principles for personal gain. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sell out" functions as a phrasal verb with two main meanings: to exhaust the supply of something through sales and to compromise one's principles for personal gain. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Its frequency is considered very common, particularly in news and media contexts. When describing moral compromises, "sell out" often carries a negative connotation. Related phrases include "be sold out" and "sacrifice principles". Remember to be mindful of context and connotation when using this phrase. Avoid using "sell out" casually when referring to someone's principles to prevent misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be sold out

Passive voice transformation focusing on the state of being completely sold.

be all gone

Emphasizes the absence of the product or tickets due to sales.

completely sold

Highlights the action of selling is fully completed.

sacrifice principles

Focuses on abandoning values for personal gain, a figurative sense of selling out.

compromise beliefs

Indicates a yielding of convictions, reflecting a moral cost.

betray ideals

Emphasizes the abandonment of core values or standards.

abandon ethics

Highlights forsaking moral principles for profit or advantage.

disregard values

Implies a lack of consideration for moral or ethical standards.

liquidate stock

Refers to the act of selling all available inventory, usually in a business context.

auction off

Suggests selling items through an auction, often implying a complete disposal.

FAQs

How can I use "sell out" in a sentence?

You can use "sell out" to describe when something is completely sold, like "The concert tickets "were sold out" in minutes". It can also mean compromising your values, as in "He felt he would "sell out" if he took the job".

What does it mean to "sell out" in a moral context?

In a moral context, to "sell out" means to compromise your principles or ideals for personal gain, often money or fame. It implies a betrayal of what you believe in.

What are some alternatives to "sell out" when referring to something being completely sold?

Instead of saying something "sold out", you could say it's "all gone", "completely sold", or "no longer available".

Is there a difference between "selling out" and "being pragmatic"?

"Selling out" typically involves abandoning core values for personal benefit, while "being pragmatic" means making practical decisions to achieve a goal, even if it requires some compromise. The key difference lies in whether the compromise violates fundamental beliefs.