English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
SHOPPING
Idioms relating to shopping and purchases
from:
'bargain hunting' to: 'window shopping'
- bargain hunting
- If you spend time in the shops looking for items to buy
at the lowest price, you go bargain hunting.
"During the sales I go bargain hunting with my friends!"
- If you spend time in the shops looking for items to buy
at the lowest price, you go bargain hunting.
- it's a bargain
- Said when an article is well below the usual price.
"That handbag goes beautifully with the dress, and at that price it's a bargain!"
- Said when an article is well below the usual price.
- buy a lemon
- If buy something, especially a car, that is defective,
unsatisfactory, constantly gives trouble or stops running after a short time,
you buy a lemon.
"The car I bought was a real lemon. It broke down two weeks later."
- If buy something, especially a car, that is defective,
unsatisfactory, constantly gives trouble or stops running after a short time,
you buy a lemon.
- I can't afford it
- If you can't afford something you don't
have enough money to buy it.
"I'd love that jacket but I can't afford it!"
- If you can't afford something you don't
have enough money to buy it.
- it costs an arm and a leg
- If an article or service costs an arm and a leg,
it is very expensive indeed.
"The diamond engagement ring cost an arm and a leg!"
- If an article or service costs an arm and a leg,
it is very expensive indeed.
- it costs a fortune
- Something that costs a fortune is very expensive.
"Look at the price of that bag - it costs a fortune!"
- Something that costs a fortune is very expensive.
- it's a steal
- The expression 'it's a steal'' means that something is so cheap that
it’s almost as if you haven't paid anything for it.
"At that price it's a steal. You won't find it cheaper in any other shop."
- The expression 'it's a steal'' means that something is so cheap that
it’s almost as if you haven't paid anything for it.
- it's good value for money
- Something that is good value for money is worth
the money spent on it.
"The quality is excellent so it's good value for money."
- Something that is good value for money is worth
the money spent on it.
- it's a bit pricey
- The expression a bit
pricey means that something is a
bit expensive.
"Their clothes are a bit pricey but they have a wonderful selection"
- The expression a bit
pricey means that something is a
bit expensive.
- it's a rip-off
- Something that costs much more than it should is called a rip-off.
"$10 for an orange juice? That's a rip-off!"
- Something that costs much more than it should is called a rip-off.
- shop around
- If you shop around, you visit a number
of shops selling similar articles in order to compare the prices.
"You can usually save money by shopping around."
- If you shop around, you visit a number
of shops selling similar articles in order to compare the prices.
- shop till you drop
- If you shop till you drop, you go shopping for a
very long time, until you are exhausted.
"If you go to London with Ashley, you'll shop till you drop, so take comfortable shoes!"
- If you shop till you drop, you go shopping for a
very long time, until you are exhausted.
- shopping spree
- If you go on a shopping spree, you enjoy a lively
outing, usually with much spending of money.
"Liza is planning to go on a shopping spree as soon as she gets her bonus."
- If you go on a shopping spree, you enjoy a lively
outing, usually with much spending of money.
- shopping therapy
- The term shopping therapy refers to
the idea that buying things can make you
feel better.
"A little shopping therapy can usually cheer up bored teenagers."
- The term shopping therapy refers to
the idea that buying things can make you
feel better.
- splash out
- If you splash out
on something, you buy it even though it
costs a lot of money.
"When he got a promotion Andy splashed out on a brand new car."
- If you splash out
on something, you buy it even though it
costs a lot of money.
- window shopping
- When people go window shopping, they look at things in
shop windows, without actually purchasing anything.
"I haven't been paid yet, so I can only go window shopping."
- When people go window shopping, they look at things in
shop windows, without actually purchasing anything.
Alphabetical lists: