sell out

Meaning

This expression means to sell all the tickets for a show, concert, or sporting event, leaving no seats or entries available. It can also describe an artist or creator who compromises their artistic integrity or principles for financial gain.

Examples

• The band managed to sell out the entire stadium in less than ten minutes.

  The band managed to sell out the entire stadium in less than ten minutes.

• I wanted to get tickets for the play, but it's going to sell out fast.

  I wanted to get tickets for the play, but it's going to sell out fast.

• If they don't promote the movie, they won't sell out the opening night.

  If they don't promote the movie, they won't sell out the opening night.

• Stand-up comedians love it when they sell out weekend shows.

  Stand-up comedians love it when they sell out weekend shows.

• The festival is expected to sell out by the end of the week.

  The festival is expected to sell out by the end of the week.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The concert was sold out of tickets.

  ✓ The concert was sold out.

  We say the event itself "sold out" or "was sold out." We do not say it was "sold out of tickets."

• ✗ They sold out all the tickets.

  ✓ They sold all the tickets.

  You sell out an venue or a show, not the tickets themselves. The tickets are simply sold.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Do you think the rock band will ___ the arena tonight?

  💡 Fill all seats by selling all tickets.

  Show answer

  sell out

• We need to buy tickets now before they ___.

  💡 Run out of tickets because they are all bought.

  Show answer

  sell out