sell out

Related to sell out: sell someone out

sell out

1. To betray one 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

sellout

1. A person who has abandoned or betrayed their espoused principles or cause, especially in the pursuit of profit or personal advantage. Many of his fans accused him of being a sellout when he signed with a major record label. Sure, he posts about social causes, but he gave up activism years ago to work in marketing. Total sellout.
2. An event that reaches capacity for admission due to all the tickets having been sold. The concert was another sellout, with over 30,000 people in attendance.
3. The act or instance of selling through the entire stock of something. The store holds a huge sellout after the holidays to get rid of leftover items at heavily discounted prices.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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

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.

sell out

1. Dispose of entirely by selling. For example, The rancher finally sold out to the oil company, or The tickets to the concert were sold out a month ago. [Late 1700s]
2. Betray one's cause or colleagues, as in He sold out to the other side. [Slang; late 1800s]
See also: out, sell
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

sell out

v.
1. To be sold completely: The tickets will sell out by tomorrow.
2. To sell one's entire supply of a particular item: I'm afraid we sold out all our ice cream, kids! The hardware store sold out of plywood as the hurricane moved closer to shore.
3. To cause some supply of merchandise to be sold completely. Used in the passive: We can't get into the theater because the tickets are sold out.
4. To cause some vendor to sell its entire supply of something. Used in the passive: I wanted to buy more spoons, but the store was sold out.
5. To sell one's entire stake in a business or venture: The owners of the liquor store plan to sell out as soon as they can find a buyer.
6. To betray one's cause or colleagues, especially for money: The disloyal baseball player sold out to another team.
7. To betray someone or something, especially for money: The manager sold out his staff in order to keep his own job. Our agent sold us out when she moved to a better company and dropped us as a client.
See also: out, sell
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

sell someone out

tv. to betray someone. How could you sell me out like that?
See also: out, sell, someone

sellout

1. n. the event of selling all of something. (Advertising.) Come to our gigantic sellout of all name-brand merchandise!
2. n. a betrayal. (see also sell someone out.) Any one of you could have stood up for me. What a sellout!
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • sell someone out
  • sellout
  • sold out
  • angle
  • angling
  • not do (someone or oneself) any favors
  • involve with
  • involve with (someone or something)
  • involved with
  • arrange some music for