Shopping in the sales

December 26 (or Boxing Day) is traditionally the start of the winter sales in the UK, when items are heavily discounted. In fact, bargain hunters can find some items reduced up to 50% off their pre-sale price.

Shops advertise unbeatable offers, with prices slashed (= cut) or sold at give-away prices. Many shops keep the sales on for a long period of time in order to clear stock ahead of new spring arrivals. You can often see signs saying Clearance Sale and Everything must go!

The best bargains are to be found at the beginning of the sales. Some people queue up overnight before the opening of the sales in order to snap up the best bargains. "Armchair shoppers" start shopping online even before the sales officially start. This year, there have been reports of record numbers of people through the doors, and huge amounts have been rung up on the tills in the first hours of trading. It seems as if the British are spending like there's no tomorrow!

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21 comments on “Shopping in the sales”

Donia

Please i want to send to all the peoples i know and don't know e-mail that i am gonna open a new store for clothes and the opening on 20th of feb.2008 in easyly and kindly way.
could you please help me.

Please come to the opening of (name of store) on 20 February at (address).

Or:
Everyone is welcome at the opening of…..

Ehsan

hi,
could you please explain me the meaning of these sentences:
1-"huge amounts have been rung up on the tills"
2-"it seems as if the British are spending…"

Clare

Ehsan ยป 1 = lots of sales have been registered on the cash tills
2 = it looks like (it appears) that the British are spending a lot of money

Sally

Hi,
could you please explain to me what is the meaning of:
-give away prices
- people through the doors

i would like to ask another question: if the store is having a great promotion, how should write it out?

thanks..

Clare

Give away prices = really low prices, so it's as if the shop is giving away items
People through the doors = people who come through the doors (i.e. customers)

Shops can announce their promotions by writing signs such as:
Massive sale!
50% off everything!
Everything must go!

nursyazwani

hi .
i just want 2 ask .
in english essay form 1, how many lines should we write in the introduction ?
hope you can answer it .

Clare

It depends on how long the essay is. A couple of sentences is probably enough for short essays.

Ahmed

Thanks for your efforts. I am graetly pleased when I get new information about everyday English specially from this section.

lina

hi could you please explain to me how can i speak english freely

Clare

It's a question of practice! Don't worry too much about mistakes, but concentrate on your message. There's lots of other advice about speaking in the speaking section of the site.

Snowflake

Hello, I thinks honest comes first when you face your friends.

riya

hi,
i just want to learn the name of all the clothes these are now in fashion like cargos, capries etc.. plz help me and i want to know, what is sneekers?

Clare

Sneakers are like trainers or tennis shoes.

There are lots of specific fashion words, and a good way of finding them would be to put a search on google for a fashion lexicon. You could also try looking at fashion magazines online which would also show you pictures.

rabi

what does "armchair shoppers" mean?

Clare

They're people who don't physically go out to shop, but who shop from their homes and buy from the internet, for example.

har

Hi,i've one doubt.if i go alone for purchase,i got confused which one to pick.at that moment,i've to say salesman that
" i'll take my mom & i'll come back later please keep this saree with you"
Is this sentence right? or what to say?please reply me….

har

Hi,how to bargain in english.will you give us a couple of sentences,please?

Clare

"Can you put this by for me? I'd like to think about it and come back later."

Be careful, though, because things go quickly in the sales. Not many shops will put something by for you.

Clare

Is there any discount on this?
Is this the lowest you can go?
If I buy two, will you give me a greater discount?

har

"i gave one pant for stitching.Is it ready?"
Is this phrase right? & if its not ready "when will it get ready?i need it today evening" make correction to this phrase, please….

Clare

I asked for my trousers to be stitched / taken up. Are they ready yet?

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