sell out

sell out

to accept money to stop following your principles. So many musicians simply sell out to the demands of the industry and abandon their art.

See also: sell

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sell out (of something)

to sell all of something, so that there is none left. We sold out of the souvenir T-shirts in the first couple of hours. During the summer the campgrounds are sold out each night. Her cruises regularly book up months in advance and almost always sell out.

See also: sell

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sell out someone/something

to stop being loyal to someone or something. He accused Congress of selling out the American people to lawyers who opposed the bill. I could sell you all out and go straight to the police with this information.

Usage notes: often money is the advantage that is gotten: Anyone who would sell out his own country for money deserves to go to prison for life.

See also: sell