sell

/sɛl/
verb★Beginner
◆ What It Really Means
To betray someone, often by abandoning them in a difficult situation
Literal Meaning
To physically sell someone down a river
Literal Breakdown
sellTo exchange for money or goods+downIn a downward direction+the riverA body of flowing water
◇ Mental Image
The image of selling someone down a river evokes abandonment and betrayal, as if they are being discarded into a dangerous or unknown place.
◈ When to Use
A politician might say, 'The party sold me down the river when they refused to support my bill.'
◉ Cultural Note
The phrase originates from the historical practice of selling enslaved people down the Mississippi River to harsher conditions in the Deep South.
formal

To exchange something for money or goods

She sells handmade jewelry online.

He sold his old car for a good price.

💡

Commonly used in business and commerce contexts.

informal

To persuade someone to buy or accept something

The salesperson tried to sell me a new phone.

The politician struggled to sell his new policy to the public.

💡

Often used in marketing and sales contexts.

Collocations

sell outTo sell all available stock of somethingsell offTo sell something quickly, often at a discountsell shortTo underestimate someone or something

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

sell like hotcakesidiom
To sell very quickly and in large quantities
sell someone down the riveridiom
To betray someone

💡Pro Tip

Common Mistakes

Avoid confusing 'sell' with 'cell' (a biological unit) or 'sell' with 'sail' (to navigate a boat).

⚡Gold Rule

Past Tense

The past tense and past participle of 'sell' is 'sold'.

📖Word Origin

Old English 'sellan', from Proto-Germanic 'selljanan'

📝Usage Notes

The past tense is 'sold', and the past participle is also 'sold'.

Word Breakdown

sell
To exchange for money or goods
root
English Dictionary