a :to be bought until no more are available:to be entirely sold被卖完;被买光
Tickets to the concert sold out quickly.音乐会的门票很快就卖光了。
The book has sold out in stores across the country.这本书在全国所有书店均已售罄。
b :to sell the entire amount of something卖完;卖光
Many stores sold out quickly when the book was first published.这本书首次发行时,大部分的书店很快就销售一空。
The concert sold out quickly. [=all the tickets to the concert were quickly bought]音乐会门票很快就卖光了。
c be sold out:to have sold the entire amount of something全部卖完
“Are there any more tickets?” “No, I'm sorry. We're (all) sold out.” [=we've sold all the tickets]“还有票吗?”“对不起,票(都)卖光了。”
— often + of
The store wassold out of milk again. [=there was no milk at the store because it had all been sold]商店的牛奶再一次销售一空。
d sell (something) outorsell out (something):to sell all of (something)卖光(某物)
The tickets were (all) sold out quickly. [=all of the tickets were sold quickly]门票很快就卖光了。
2
:to sell all that you own of a business, company, etc.出售(企业、公司份额等)
In the end, the other owners forced her to sell out.最后,其他所有者逼迫她出售她的全部份额。
3
disapproving:to do something that does not agree with your beliefs, values, etc., especially in order to make money(尤指为赚钱)背弃信念,违背原则
Many of the band's fans accused them of selling out when they started appearing in television commercials.当这个乐队出现在电视商业广告中时,许多粉丝指责他们背弃原则。
The union sees the deal as selling out to management. [=the union sees the deal as going against their principles and favoring management]工会认为这桩交易违背了他们的原则,祖护了资方。
4
sell (someone) outorsell out (someone)informal:to do something that harms or causes trouble for (someone who trusted you) in order to get something for yourself:to betray (someone)出卖;背叛
She sold out her accomplices [=she told police who her accomplices were] in exchange for a lower sentence.为减轻刑罚,她供出了同伙。