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Glite Dictionary
for sale

for sale

209 1.0
Available for people to buy
  • idiom
translation icon : en venta
  • And this one is for sale on Cars and Bids.
  • offered for sale
  • available for sale
  • products for sale

He says there's a huge Boy Scout camp for sale up there.

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Examples

  • We do have some items for sale, some limited edition.

    The 85 South Comedy Show

  • Well, I got a boat for sale if anybody wants one.

    Jiggin' With Jordan

  • Do you know of any homes for sale there? -

    Jack Lyon: Veterans Serving Veterans (2013)

  • We're going to be showing this item for sale coming up in the next six months.

  • The seller offered a product for sale in the online marketplace.

    Academic text (2017)

  • I saw this house in the Bahamas for sale.

    Two for the Money (2005)

  • Vehicles that achieve this efficiency level are available for sale today in the subcompact size class.

    Academic text (1999)

  • I have a pattern card template available for sale at my Etsy store.

  • This Unimog is currently for sale on Cars and Bids.

  • I saw a beautiful painting for sale at the art gallery.

Synonyms

on the market
vsfor sale
136 2.3

Available for people to buy

is similar but can also be privately available, not only public
on the block
vsfor sale
2 4.1

Offered for sale, often at a public auction

is broader, used for general offering not only auction events
purchasable
vsfor sale
1 2.8

Available to buy

is actively offered to buyers now rather than merely possible

How Available

ubiquitous
51 9.0
for sale
209 1.0
on the market
136 2.3
available
∞ 2.3

Surface Forms

for sale positive

Morphology

for + sale

The meaning 'available to be bought' is directly derivable from combining 'for' (indicating purpose/recipient) with 'sale' (the act or state of being offered for purchase); the phrase simply signals that an item is being offered to buyers. This compositional pattern is common in English and in many other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

For sale began as a plain shop sign: the words for and sale were put on an item or in a window to show it could be bought. Imagine a price tag or sign reading for sale on a car or a table — that clear picture is why the phrase means 'available to be bought' today.