Selling, ESL, Idioms, phrases

1. All about Sales
Phrases & idioms

2. When this house is u__ for sale, please contact me.
I’m very interested in this property.

3. When this house is up for sale, please contact me.
I’m very interested in this property.
* Up for sale: available for purchase

4. Our shop had a large stock of winter coats that we
sold o_______ at a large discount so that we could
make room for the Spring clothes.
*this just means ‘to sell’

5. Our shop had a large stock of winter coats that we
sold off at a large discount so that we could
make room for the Spring clothes.
This family is selling off some old items
they don’t use anymore.

6. When creating an effective sales p_______, keep in
mind that consumers like statistics, direct referrals and need
their questions or doubts answered honestly.

7. When creating an effective sales pitch, keep in
mind that consumers like statistics, direct referrals and need
their questions or doubts answered honestly.
A line of talk that attempts to persuade
someone of something (usually to buy
something)
* Sales Pitch

8. One of the biggest selling p______ of our medicine is that
you only need to take 1 small tablet in the morning. Our
competitors treatment requires taking 3 pills a day only
after eating.

9. One of the biggest selling points of our medicine is that
you only need to take 1 small tablet in the morning. Our
competitors treatment requires taking 3 pills a day only
after eating.
Selling point
a feature of a product or idea that is worth mentioning when trying to sell
the product or idea. (it ‘sets it apart’ from competitors or offers some
advantage to the consumer)

10. I’ve had a great day! I just cl______ a sale on a large
order of our leather bags. They agreed to buy 100 bags to
sell in their new shop!
• hint: this means
the same as to make a sale

11. I’ve had a great day! I just closed a sale on a large
order of our leather bags. They agreed to buy 100 bags to
sell in their new shop!
* to close a sale:
to complete the sale of something; to
seal a bargain / sign a contract in the
sale of something.

12. Our sales force is trained to focus on customer
engagement & education, rather than pushing for
a h______ sell using pressure, fear and guilt.

13. Our sales force is trained to focus on customer
engagement & education, rather than pushing for
a hard sell using pressure, fear and guilt.
Hard Sell
A method / technique of
aggressiveness or advertising

14. Can you think of any place or industry
that uses the “hard sell” method to get
customers to buy?

15. Our company prefers a s____ selling approach for our
products. We don’t pressure or call our customers several
times a month; we simply leave brochures in many different
locations for interested buyers to read and contact us
if they like.

16. Our company prefers a soft selling approach for our
products. We don’t pressure or call our customers several
times a month; we simply leave brochures in many different
locations for interested buyers to read and contact us
if they like.
Soft Sell
a polite attempt to sell something; a
very gentle sales pitch.

17. When you said that Amy was an ‘okay’ employee to our boss,
you’re selling her sh_________. Did you know that she often volunteers
to work overtime, and she exceeded her target by %15 for the past 3
quarters. She’s a model employee!

18. When you said that Amy was an ‘okay’ employee to our boss,
you’re selling her short. Did you know that she often volunteers
to work overtime, and she exceeded her target by %15 for the past 3
quarters. She’s a model employee!
to sell someone or something short:
o underestimate someone or something; to fail to see the good qualities
of someone or something.
*Ex: “The resort was just okay; it was too hot
outside, so I didn’t really enjoy it.”
“The resort doesn’t control the weather.
There was a large pool and many
shady spots & fans to relax outside.
Don’t sell it short.

19. In the financial industry, it’s unfortunate that so many successful CEOs
had to sell their s________ in order to get their high positions.

20. In the financial industry, it’s unfortunate that so many successful CEOs
had to sell their soul in order to get their high positions.
to ‘sell your soul’ (to the devil)
to do something bad in order to succeed; do something unethical to
get ahead / get power. This also includes putting money before
family/friends.

21. When the stock market crashed in 2007, the economy
experienced a great housing boom, and prices for property
dropped. It was a Buyer’s Market.
What’s a “Boom” in business, and what does it mean when
a particular market is described as a “Buyers Market”?

22. Even though I had reserved a hotel room at Sunshine Villas,
when I arrived, they claimed they were overbooked and
offered us a room at their ‘sister hotel’. It was still under
construction and had no ocean view! I felt they
purposely did a bait-and-switch to make more money.
What’s a bait-and-switch?

23. The Bait-and-switch ‘technique’ (scam), is an action, usually
illegal, advertising a product /service, with the plan/intention
to change it for an inferior or more expensive product.
• this is why it’s important to always
read the fine print in every contract
or buyers agreement.