sold out

sell out

1. To betray someone for a personal benefit. A noun or pronoun can be used between "sell" and "out." Part of the discontentment among voters comes from the sentiment that those in government sold them out when the economy collapsed. Jacob sold out the others to the police so that he would avoid jail time.

2. Of a stock of something, to become completely depleted due to every item having been sold. The concert tickets sold out in a matter of minutes. The new smartphone is selling out faster than we expected.

3. To abandon or betray one's espoused principles or cause, especially in the pursuit of profit or personal benefit. Many of his fans felt he sold out when he signed with a major record label. That's it? One hard month and you're ready to sell out and get a corporate job?

See also: out, sell

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

sold out

[of a product] completely sold with no more items remaining; [of a store] having no more of a particular product. The tickets were sold out so we couldn't go to the concert. I wanted new shoes like yours, but they were sold out.

See also: out, sold

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.