sell someone on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sell someone on" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to persuade someone to support or agree with an idea or proposal. Example: "She tried to sell him on the benefits of the new marketing strategy." Alternative expressions include "convince someone of," "persuade someone to," and "win someone over."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

You can't sell someone on a DVD player that costs more than twice as much as a competing device that basically does the exact same thing as far as most of your average consumers are concerned.

TechCrunch

Speaking face to face is a much better way to sell someone on your intelligence, according to a recent study.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Develop a one sentence "elevator speech" that pithily describes your product, and let it be the first thing out of your mouth when you pitch the press or are selling someone on your product.

WikiHow

That is 51 fewer opportunities to sell someone an on-board lunch.

The Economist

In advertising, even if you sell someone an ad spot, you can sell the same spot to someone else on another day, or better yet: create a new ad unit.

TechCrunch

Why am I selling someone else's comedy on my website?

Huffington Post

If you steal someone's bike or sell drugs on someone's block, there are ways to repay them for your offense.

The Guardian - Opinion

No reason to let someone sell you on something untested.

Forbes

I would hate selling something to someone on Kickstarter and having to tell them that they won't see good content for it for another six months.

TechCrunch

My main concern was that the Powerlight team would get disillusioned and either sell to someone else or go public on their own.

Forbes

But last Monday Ms. O'Donnell was not on television selling someone else's production.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sell someone on", ensure that you clearly articulate the benefits or advantages of the idea, product, or service you are promoting. A compelling narrative can significantly increase your chances of successful persuasion.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the benefits when trying to "sell someone on" something. Exaggerated claims can erode trust and ultimately undermine your efforts to persuade.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sell someone on" functions as an idiomatic expression. It signifies the act of persuading or convincing someone to accept an idea, product, or concept. As shown by Ludwig, the phrase is commonly used in business and everyday contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the idiomatic phrase "sell someone on" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-registered expression used to convey the act of persuading or convincing someone. While Ludwig shows it's not exceedingly common, it appears frequently in news, media, and business contexts. To use it effectively, clearly articulate the benefits of what you are promoting and avoid exaggerated claims. Consider alternatives like "convince someone of" or "persuade someone to" for more formal situations. This guidance ensures clarity and enhances your persuasive communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

convince someone of

Replaces "sell" with "convince", emphasizing the act of persuading someone to believe something.

persuade someone to

Similar to "convince", but focuses on influencing someone's actions or decisions.

win someone over

Emphasizes gaining someone's support or approval.

get someone on board

Focuses on gaining someone's agreement and participation.

influence someone to

Highlights the act of having an effect on someone's thinking or actions.

sway someone to

Suggests gently moving someone's opinion or decision.

bring someone around to

Implies gradually changing someone's mind.

talk someone into

Focuses on persuading someone through conversation.

entice someone to

Highlights attracting someone with appealing incentives.

market something to someone

Similar usage than selling, but in a marketing environment

FAQs

How can I use "sell someone on" in a sentence?

You can use "sell someone on" to describe the act of persuading someone to accept an idea or purchase a product. For example, "She needed to sell her boss on the new marketing strategy."

What's a good alternative to "sell someone on"?

Alternatives include "convince someone of", "persuade someone to", or "win someone over" depending on the context.

Is "sell someone on" more formal or informal?

"Sell someone on" is generally considered neutral to informal. For more formal situations, "persuade someone to" or "convince someone of" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "sell someone on" and "sell something to someone"?

"Sell something to someone" refers to a direct transaction, while "sell someone on" implies persuasion and convincing someone of the merits of something, which may or may not involve a direct sale. For example, "I tried to sell him on the idea" versus "I sold the car to him".