Everyone loves to save money – so let’s learn how to talk about it in English!
Black Friday is coming up soon, which means you’re going to see a LOT of sales, deals, and discounts.
That means this is the perfect time to learn some common English expressions for getting a good price, looking for discounts, and even finding out that the thing you wanted is already gone!
OK, let’s learn some phrases for sales and discounts. Our first one is:
1. Everything is on sale / marked down.
When something is on sale, it’s being offered at a lower price than usual.
- “Everything in the store is on sale this weekend.”
Another common expression is marked down, which also means the price has been reduced:
- “All the winter coats have been marked down.”
We can also say exactly how much the price was reduced:
- “This jacket was marked down from $80 to $50.”
One thing to remember: on sale means the price has been reduced, whereas for sale simply means something is available to buy.
2. That’s a great deal.
A deal is an agreement or offer, and when shopping, a great deal means you’re getting something for a very good price.
- “This laptop normally costs $900, but it’s on sale for $600.”
- “Wow, that’s a great deal!”
We also commonly say a good deal or a pretty good deal, but “a great deal” is the best.
By the way, you’ll be able to get a great deal on Espresso English courses during our Black Friday sale, so make sure to sign up for our e-mail list to hear about the discount!
3. You get your money’s worth.
If you get your money’s worth, it means you get enough value or benefit from something to make it worth the amount you paid.
- “I’ve worn this coat for the past ten years, so I definitely got my money’s worth.”
This can actually be used for products of any price – whether less expensive or more expensive. It simply means that the benefits are bigger than the price you paid, so it was worth it, it made sense to spend money on it because your life is much better.
4. It was a bargain.
A bargain is something you buy for a surprisingly low price.
- “I found this dress for only $15. It was a bargain!”
We also often say “a real bargain:”
- “We got our dining room table secondhand for $100. It was a real bargain.”
5. It was a steal.
This one is even more “extreme” than “bargain.”
A bargain is a low price, but a “steal” is something priced so low it almost seems like you’re stealing it, taking it for free.
- “These boots normally cost $150, but I got them for $20. They were a steal!”
Of course, a steal doesn’t mean you actually stole the product! It means the price was so amazingly low that it almost feels like you did.
6. I like to shop around.
To shop around means to look at several different stores or websites and compare your options before deciding what to buy.
- “I don’t buy all my groceries at the same store. I like to shop around and find the best price.”
Shopping around can help you compare not only prices, but also brands, features, quality, and other options.
7. I always stock up on things when they’re on sale.
To stock up on something means to buy a large amount – more than you need right now – so that you’ll have enough for the future.
- “I always stock up on things when they’re on sale.”
For example, if your favorite shampoo is normally $8 but it’s on sale for $4, you might buy four or five bottles. We often stock up on products that we use regularly and that won’t go bad quickly.
8. Here’s a coupon for 10% off.
A coupon is a piece of paper or a digital code that gives you a lower price. And 10% off means the price is reduced by 10%. So if something normally costs $100, it would only cost $90 with the coupon.
Here at Espresso English, we give a MUCH bigger discount than 10% during Black Friday. In fact, we offer the best price on courses available all year, so you do NOT want to miss this sale!
9. Get it while supplies last.
When it comes to physical products, you’ll often see this phrase: while supplies last. This means the offer is available only as long as the store still has that product.
If all the products are purchased, then the offer is over and you can’t buy it anymore. So if you want the product, you might need to act quickly.
10. Sorry, this product is sold out.
If something is sold out, it means all the available products have been purchased, so there are none left to buy.
This can happen to a physical product, like shoes, or to something like tickets to a concert, show, or sporting event – they sell out when all the available tickets have been purchased.
Now you know 10 useful English phrases for talking about sales, deals, and discounts! Can you use a few of them in your own sentences? Give it a try!
Go ahead and try the quiz on the next page.
Our students say you really get your money’s worth from Espresso English courses, and everything will be marked down – so you can stock up on courses for the entire year if you want!
