- 1 [uncountable, countable] an act or the process of selling something regulations governing the sale of alcoholic beverages I haven't made a sale all week. She gets 10% commission on each sale. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivequick, illegal, art, … verb + salehold, ban, block, … sale + verbmake something, realize something, go ahead, … sale + nounprice prepositionfor sale, on sale phrasesconditions of sale, a contract of sale, point of sale, … See full entry See related entries: Shopping in stores
- 2 sales [plural] the number of items sold Retail sales fell in November by 10%. Export sales were up by 32% last year. the sales figures for May a sales drive/campaign (= a special effort to sell more) CollocationsBusinessRunning a business buy/acquire/own/sell a company/firm/franchise set up/establish/start/start up/launch a business/company run/operate a business/company/franchise head/run a firm/department/team make/secure/win/block a deal expand/grow/build the business boost/increase investment/spending/sales/turnover/earnings/exports/trade increase/expand production/output/sales boost/maximize production/productivity/efficiency/income/revenue/profit/profitability achieve/maintain/sustain growth/profitability cut/reduce/bring down/lower/slash costs/prices announce/impose/make cuts/cutbacksSales and marketing break into/enter/capture/dominate the market gain/grab/take/win/boost/lose market share find/build/create a market for something start/launch an advertising/a marketing campaign develop/launch/promote a product/website create/generate demand for your product attract/get/retain/help customers/clients drive/generate/boost/increase demand/sales beat/keep ahead of/out-think/outperform the competition meet/reach/exceed/miss sales targetsFinance draw up/set/present/agree/approve a budget keep to/balance/cut/reduce/slash the budget be/come in below/under/over/within budget generate income/revenue/profit/funds/business fund/finance a campaign/a venture/an expansion/spending/a deficit provide/raise/allocate capital/funds attract/encourage investment/investors recover/recoup costs/losses/an investment get/obtain/offer somebody/grant somebody credit/a loan apply for/raise/secure/arrange/provide financeFailure lose business/trade/customers/sales/revenue accumulate/accrue/incur/run up debts suffer/sustain enormous/heavy/serious losses face cuts/a deficit/redundancy/bankruptcy file for/ (North American English) enter/avoid/escape bankruptcy (British English) go into administration/liquidation liquidate/wind up a company survive/weather a recession/downturn propose/seek/block/oppose a merger launch/make/accept/defeat a takeover bid Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivegood, healthy, high, … … of saleslevel, value, volume, … verb + salesachieve, have, generate, … sales + verbaccount for something, amount to something, reach something, … sales + nounforce, people, personnel, … prepositionsales of, in sales phrasesa decline in sales, a drop in sales, a fall in sales, … See full entry See related entries: Marketing
- 3 sales [uncountable] (also sales department [countable]) the part of a company that deals with selling its products a sales and marketing director She works in sales/in the sales department. The Weldon Group has a 6 000 strong sales force. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivegood, healthy, high, … … of saleslevel, value, volume, … verb + salesachieve, have, generate, … sales + verbaccount for something, amount to something, reach something, … sales + nounforce, people, personnel, … prepositionsales of, in sales phrasesa decline in sales, a drop in sales, a fall in sales, … See full entry See related entries: Marketing
- 4 [countable] an occasion when a shop/store sells its goods at a lower price than usual The sale starts next week. the January sales I bought a coat in the sales. sale prices Wordfindershopassistant, buy, counter, display, fitting room, promotion, sale, shop, store, till Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveafter-Christmas, annual, January, … verb + salehold sale + verbbegin, end sale + nounrack, prices prepositionin a/the sale, at the sales, in the sales, … See full entry See related entries: Cost and payment, Shopping in stores, In the store
- 5[countable] an occasion when goods are sold, especially an auction a contemporary art sale see also car boot sale, garage sale, jumble sale Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivequick, illegal, art, … verb + salehold, ban, block, … sale + verbmake something, realize something, go ahead, … sale + nounprice prepositionfor sale, on sale phrasesconditions of sale, a contract of sale, point of sale, … See full entry Word Originlate Old English sala, from Old Norse sala, of Germanic origin; related to sell.Extra examples All proceeds from the sale of the book will go to charity. Closing the sale means that you ask the buyer to say yes or no. Direct sales, by mail order, were up by 15%. Drugs were on open sale in the club. High-street sales have fallen for the fifth consecutive month. I bought it at the winter sales. I got these shoes in the Bloomingdales sale. I see their house is for sale. I see they’ve put their house up for sale. I work in sales. If we don’t close this sale, we’re out of business. It sells for $50 plus sales tax and shipping. Low interest rates pushed sales to a record in 2006. Lower consumer confidence could hurt PC sales. North American sales account for 40% of the worldwide market. Sales failed to reach 10 000 units. Sales of VCRs have plummeted. Sales of ice cream are up because of the hot weather. The advertising campaign generated massive sales. The bake sale made $358 for cancer research. The car manufacturer was forced to shed jobs following a dramatic sales slump. The company reported strong sales for May. The conditions of sale were posted up around the auction room. The high volume of sales makes the low pricing policy profitable. The land has come up for sale again. The new stamps are now on sale at main post offices. The novels are delivered to newspaper shops and other outlets on a sale or return basis. The novels are delivered to outlets on a sale or return basis. The price is low to ensure a quick sale. The sale of paintings totalled £250 000. The sale of the house fell through when the buyer pulled out. a major sale of paintings an aggressive sales pitch from the company rep promotional posters shown at the point of sale sales amounting to over £4 million the illegal sale of alcohol the massive sale of foreign currency reserves to maximize the sale proceedsIdioms available to be bought, especially from the owner I'm sorry, it's not for sale. They've put their house up for sale. an increase in the number of stolen vehicles being offered for sale a ‘for sale’ sign See related entries: Buying a home
- 1 available to be bought, especially in a shop/store Tickets are on sale from the booking office. The new model goes on sale next month.
- 2(especially North American English, South African English) being offered at a reduced price All video equipment is on sale today and tomorrow.
noun jump to other results
BrE BrE//seɪl//; NAmE NAmE//seɪl//
Cost and payment, Marketing, Shopping in stores, In the store(British English) (of goods) supplied with the agreement that any item that is not sold can be sent back without having to be paid for
Check pronunciation: sale
