sellout
sellout — adjective
- selloutpositive
- more selloutcomparative
- most selloutsuperlative
1. describes an event such as a concert, play, or sports match where every ticket h
describes an event such as a concert, play, or sports match where every ticket has been bought and none are left to sell.
Arjun tried to buy tickets for the concert, but it was already a sellout show.
sellout + noun (show) for attributive use
The band played to a sellout crowd of sixty thousand fans at the stadium.
sellout crowd — most frequent collocation
The theatre announced three sellout performances of the new musical in its first week.
Madison checked online every morning hoping to find tickets for the sellout match.
- sold out
predicative equivalent — 'the event is sold out' vs. 'a sellout event'
- available
tickets are still on sale
文法句型
sellout + noun (crowd, show, concert)
用法筆記
Attributive only — you can say 'a sellout crowd' but NOT 'the crowd was sellout'. Use 'sold out' for predicative position.
常見錯誤
sellout — noun
- selloutsingular
- selloutsplural
1. a performance, game, or other event for which every single ticket has been purch
a performance, game, or other event for which every single ticket has been purchased, with none remaining unsold.
The Adele concert in Dublin was a sellout; tickets sold out within fifteen minutes.
be + a sellout — common pattern
Organisers expected a sellout for the final match between Brazil and Argentina.
expect a sellout — typical verb + noun pairing
Maja was disappointed that the play was a sellout, so she could not get tickets for her parents.
The exhibition at the National Museum has been a sellout every day since it opened.
With only three shows remaining, the tour is close to becoming a complete sellout.
- sold-out event
more literal and descriptive; less idiomatic than 'sellout'
- full house
used mainly for theatres and cinemas
文法句型
a sellout
pronoun + be + a sellout
用法筆記
Often used with verbs like 'be', 'become', 'declare', 'pronounce'. Intensifiers such as 'complete', 'total', 'near' are common before the noun.
常見錯誤
2. describes a moment when a person or group walks away from its stated principles,
describes a moment when a person or group walks away from its stated principles, promises, or loyalties — especially in exchange for money, power, or an easier route forward.
Many voters called the politician's decision a sellout of the working class to corporate lobbyists.
sellout of X to Y — common preposition pattern
When the union accepted a pay cut in exchange for no job losses, some members saw it as a sellout.
Amira refused to sign the contract, calling it a sellout of everything her team had worked for.
Environmental groups condemned the agreement as a sellout of climate commitments to the mining industry.
- betrayal
stronger, more general; 'sellout' specifically implies trading principles for personal benefit
- treachery
more formal and dramatic; implies deception of allies
- compromise
less negative; does not necessarily imply betrayal
文法句型
a sellout of [principle/group]
be a sellout to [someone/something]
用法筆記
Strongly negative and emotive. The preposition 'of' names what is betrayed; 'to' names who benefits from the betrayal.
常見錯誤
3. a person who turns their back on their principles, cause, or close associates fo
a person who turns their back on their principles, cause, or close associates for personal advancement or gain.
After the journalist accepted the bribe, the local newspaper branded him a sellout.
brand + pronoun + a sellout — pattern with strong criticism
Reuben felt like a sellout when he quit the non-profit to work for an oil company.
Fans called the indie band sellouts after they signed a huge contract with a major label.
The activist was accused of being a government sellout who leaked information to the police.
Ilan never expected his closest colleague to turn out to be a sellout.
- loyalist
someone who stays faithful
- true believer
someone who never wavers in their principles
文法句型
a sellout
call someone a sellout
brand someone a sellout
用法筆記
Most common in political, social-movement, and entertainment contexts. Often paired with verbs expressing strong disapproval: 'call', 'brand', 'denounce as', 'label'.
常見錯誤
sellout — verb
- selloutpresent simple I / you / we / they
- sellouts3rd person singular
- sellouting-ing form
- selloutedpast simple
1. to sell every available ticket for a performance, match, or event so that none r
to sell every available ticket for a performance, match, or event so that none remain for others to buy.
The Broadway musical sold out all its shows within three hours of opening.
transitive: sell out + direct object (shows)
Within a week, the theatre had sold out and extra performances were added.
intransitive: theatre + sold out (no object)
Megan checked the ticket website every morning until the concert finally sold out.
All three nights of the festival sold out within minutes of going on sale.
The organisers hoped the charity gala would sell out, and it did by Thursday afternoon.
- sell up
British English; more about selling a business or stock, not tickets
- flop
informal; an event that fails to attract an audience
文法句型
sell out + noun (tickets, event)
intransitive: concert/event + sell out
passive: be sold out
用法筆記
This sense is commonly used intransitively (focus on the event) or transitively (focus on the seller). Passive 'be sold out' is the most frequent form in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. to sell the entire supply of a particular product or item, so that no stock rema
to sell the entire supply of a particular product or item, so that no stock remains in the shop or warehouse.
The bakery sold out of its famous apple pies before lunchtime every Saturday.
sell out of + (product) — most common pattern
When the new video game console launched, stores across the country sold out in one day.
Sayaka tried to order the limited-edition trainers, but they had already sold out online.
The bookstore sold out all copies of the novel within a week of the author's visit.
Seasonal items like pumpkin spice coffee usually sell out within the first month of autumn.
The pharmacy had sold out of flu medicine by early December.
Antonia wanted to buy the new cookbook, but every bookstore she tried had sold out.
- run out of
more general; can apply to anything, not just items for sale
- restock
to bring in new supply after selling out
文法句型
sell out of + noun (product)
sell out + noun (stock/goods)
intransitive: goods + sell out
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 is about retail goods (not tickets), and the preposition 'of' ('sell out of milk') is very common. The subject can be a seller or a product. The pattern 'sell out of [product name]' is the default structure in retail contexts: sellers sell out of an item, not the item itself. Examples 6 and 7 above show this pattern with a named seller and a product.
常見錯誤
3. to sell the assets, property, or goods of a person or company — usually by legal
to sell the assets, property, or goods of a person or company — usually by legal force — in order to pay off debts or satisfy creditors.
The bank sold out the small business owner's equipment to recover the unpaid loan.
transitive: bank sells out + (debtor's) + asset
After the company went bankrupt, the court ordered all its assets to be sold out.
passive: assets be sold out
Mert's father lost his shop when the lenders sold him out at auction last winter.
The investors decided to sell out their holdings before the stock price dropped any further.
When a trader cannot meet a margin call, the broker may sell out the position automatically.
- liquidate
more formal; 'the company was liquidated' — implies closure of the entire business
- foreclose on
limited to property/mortgages; 'sell out' is broader
- auction off
implies public sale; narrower in meaning
- retain
to keep possession of assets
文法句型
sell out + noun (debtor/goods)
passive: goods/possessions + be sold out
用法筆記
This sense has a formal, legal feel. The object is usually assets, property, or the debtor's belongings. In financial markets, 'sell out' refers to closing a position to cover a margin requirement.
常見錯誤
4. to abandon one's principles, cause, or close associates for personal advantage —
to abandon one's principles, cause, or close associates for personal advantage — such as money, status, or an easier life.
Many supporters felt the senator had sold out to big corporations when she voted against the environmental bill.
sell out to + (entity) — who you betray TO
Pim refused the lucrative offer because he did not want to sell out on his teammates.
sell out on + (group/person) — who you betray
The journalist was accused of selling out when she stopped writing about government corruption.
Henry started the company with strong ethical values, but over the years he sold out to the highest bidder.
The indie band's fans accused them of selling out after they appeared in a soft drink advert.
- stand firm
to refuse to abandon principles
- stay loyal
to remain faithful to a cause or group
文法句型
sell out to + (person/entity)
sell out on + (principle/group)
用法筆記
Almost always carries disapproval. The most common construction is 'sell out to [a powerful person or group]'. 'Sell out on [someone]' focuses on the person who was betrayed.