spruik

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spruik" is correct and usable in written English, particularly in Australian and New Zealand English.
It is typically used in informal contexts to mean promoting or advertising something, often in a persuasive manner. Example: "The salesperson began to spruik the benefits of the new product to potential customers at the fair."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Nothing quite captures the glory of God-made-flesh than two hours of singing punctuated by the occasional spruik for the network.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Thankfully, the most contentious issues roiling relations with the Vatican these days concern real estate and not religion.For the Catholics' and Tin Lanh's countrymen it remains a secular holiday, or a good chance to spruik, if Heineken's campaigns are anything to go by.

The Economist

There was an immediate outcry this week when the ABC announced it had entered into a commercial partnership with Swisse Wellness, a vitamins and supplements company which pays celebrities, including Nicole Kidman and Sonia Kruger, to spruik its wares.

The Guardian

He had committed to attend the show – and was likely to spruik the agriculture white paper – having said as recently as Sunday morning that he would be there.

The Guardian

It was America's sweetheart Brooke Shields who said nothing came between her and her Calvins, but if an Australian denim brand selected one of us to spruik its products, she'd definitely declare "nothing comes between me and my skinnies".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Her income is higher than it was before and she can afford someone to come in for four hours a day to help out, but it is nothing like the paid holiday that advocates of do-what-you-love independence spruik.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Turnbull spruiks "innovation" as the engine of enterprise but can't commit to investment in either a state-resourced education system that incubates it, nor to a government-funded CSIRO that fosters investigations beyond an immediate commercial goal.

The Guardian - Opinion

Brown has hit on a genius method to filter and focus the merch inflow: he only spruiks other people's products if they happen to be shoes with gemstones embedded in them.

The Guardian - Sport

He spruiks the Scanlon method of finding people to question by random sampling.

The Guardian

While Fraser spruiks his anti-coal seam gas credentials, his state party has had to be dragged kicking and screaming to sell licences in the area.

The Guardian

The Australian Conservation Foundation's chief executive, Kelly O'Shanassy, said: "The government spruiks its climate credentials but Australia remains a laggard on cutting climate pollution.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spruik" when you want to convey a sense of enthusiastic or persuasive promotion, adding a touch of local flavor to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "spruik" in formal documents or academic papers where a more neutral term like "promote" or "advertise" would be more appropriate. The informal nature of "spruik" can detract from the seriousness of the content.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "spruik" is as a verb, used to describe the act of promoting or advertising something. Ludwig AI indicates that it's especially common in Australian and New Zealand English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spruik" is a verb that means to promote or advertise something, often with enthusiasm. It is particularly common in Australian and New Zealand English and is frequently used in news and media contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While generally acceptable, it's best to avoid using "spruik" in formal writing where more neutral terms such as ""promote"" or ""advertise"" may be more appropriate. Its specific nuance suggests a persuasive and sometimes assertive method of promotion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

promote

A general term for making something known or advocating for it.

advertise

Focuses on making a product or service known to the public through paid announcements.

pitch

Suggests a persuasive presentation of an idea or product.

promote aggressively

Emphasizes the forceful nature of the promotion.

tout

Implies aggressively promoting or praising something, sometimes excessively.

extol the virtues of

Highlights the act of praising the qualities of something.

hawk

Suggests selling goods or services aggressively, often in public places.

sing the praises of

Similar to "extol the virtues of", suggesting enthusiastic praise.

peddle

Implies selling or promoting something, sometimes in a dubious or persistent manner.

plug

Means to promote something casually or incidentally.

FAQs

How can I use "spruik" in a sentence?

You can use "spruik" to describe promoting something, especially with enthusiasm. For example, "The company hired influencers to "spruik" their new product".

What are some alternatives to using "spruik"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "promote", "advertise", or "pitch".

Is "spruik" appropriate for formal writing?

Generally, "spruik" is better suited for informal contexts. In formal writing, consider using more neutral terms such as "promote" or "recommend".

Where is the term "spruik" commonly used?

"Spruik" is most commonly used in Australian and New Zealand English. If your audience is unfamiliar with these dialects, using a more widely understood term might be preferable.