- 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.
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- 2sales [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) Topic 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/lose/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/cutbacks
- break into/enter/capture/dominate a market
- capture/gain/grab/take/win/boost/lose market share
- identify/find/build/create a market for something
- start/launch an advertising/a marketing campaign
- develop/launch/promote a product/Web site
- estimate/assess/create/generate demand for your product
- attract/get/retain/keep/help customers/clients
- drive/generate/boost/increase demand/sales
- beat/keep ahead of/out-think/outperform/ (informal) stymie the competition
- meet/reach/exceed/miss sales targets
- draw up/set/present/propose/agree on/approve a budget
- keep to/balance/cut/reduce/slash the budget
- be/come in below/under/over/within budget
- generate income/revenue/profit(s)/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/an outlay
- get/obtain/offer somebody/grant somebody credit/a loan
- apply for/raise/secure/arrange/provide financing
- lose business/trade/customers/sales/revenue
- accumulate/accrue/incur/run up debts
- suffer/sustain enormous/heavy/serious losses
- face cuts/a deficit/bankruptcy/a shortfall
- declare/file for/enter/avoid/escape bankruptcy
- liquidate a company/a business/assets
- survive/weather a recession/downturn
- propose/seek/block/oppose a merger
- launch/make/accept/contest/defeat a takeover bid
- 3sales [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.
- 4[countable] an occasion when a store sells its goods at a lower price than usual The sale starts next week. Memorial Day sales sale prices
- 5[countable] an occasion when goods are sold, especially an auction a contemporary art sale see garage sale, rummage sale, tag sale, yard sale Idioms
- 1available to be bought, especially in a store Tickets are on sale at the box office. The new model goes on sale next month.
- 2being offered at a reduced price All video equipment is on sale today and tomorrow.
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
Check pronunciation: sale