sell out - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

sell someone out and sell someone down the river

to betray someone; to reveal damaging information about someone. Bill told everything he knew about Bob, and that sold Bob down the river. You'll be sorry if you sell me out. Lefty sold out his friends, and we'll all soon be arrested.

See also: out, sell

sell something out

to sell all of something. Have they sold their supply out yet? The stores sold out their stocks of that game long before Christmas.

See also: out, sell

sell out (to someone)

1. to sell everything, such as all one's property or one's company, to someone. The farmer finally gave up and sold out to a large corporation. I refuse to sell out no matter what they offer me.

2. to betray someone or something to someone. I think that you have sold out to the enemy!

See also: out, sell

sell out (to someone)

1. to sell everything, such as all one's property or one's company, to someone. The farmer finally gave up and sold out to a large corporation. I refuse to sell out no matter what they offer me.

2. to betray someone or something to someone. I think that you have sold out to the enemy!

See also: out, sell

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: out, sell

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: out, sell

sell out somebody/something also sell somebody/something out

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.

Related vocabulary: sell somebody down the river

See also: out, sell

? References in classic literature
Then sell out -- sell out, marquis, or you will lose it all. The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas, Alexandre View in context That the power of attorney, authorising the bankers to sell out the stock, and the various written orders telling them what amounts to sell out, were formally signed by both the Trustees. The Moonstone by Collins, Wilkie View in context The living has always belonged to the younger brother, and why shouldn't you sell out and go into the Church? Vanity Fair by Thackeray, William Makepeace View in context More results

? References in classic literature

Then sell out -- sell out, marquis, or you will lose it all.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas, Alexandre View in context

That the power of attorney, authorising the bankers to sell out the stock, and the various written orders telling them what amounts to sell out, were formally signed by both the Trustees.

The Moonstone by Collins, Wilkie View in context

The living has always belonged to the younger brother, and why shouldn't you sell out and go into the Church?

Vanity Fair by Thackeray, William Makepeace View in context

More results