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Glite Dictionary
to sell like gangbusters

to sell like gangbusters

1 7.2
Many people buy it very quickly
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : vender como pan caliente
  • I have a writer friend who's been selling like gangbusters in fantasy for 25 years.

and one of the most read books in the world and selling like gangbusters still is because I am constantly innovating myself.

Examples

  • and one of the most read books in the world and selling like gangbusters still is because I am constantly innovating myself.

    Evan Carmichael

  • True, I haven't exactly been selling like gangbusters, but I feel that with some time, I eventually will.

    Blog text (12)

  • Yeah, it's selling like gangbusters.

    Keep Your Distance (2005)

  • I have a writer friend who's been selling like gangbusters in fantasy for 25 years.

    Blog text (20)

  • True, I haven't exactly been selling like gangbusters, but I feel that with some time, I eventually will.

    Blog text (12)

  • If you don't sell like gangbusters, you get bumped down.

    Blog text (12)

  • This new smartphone model is selling like gangbusters, attracting customers from all over the city.

  • Her latest book has been selling like gangbusters since its release, quickly topping the bestseller lists.

  • The concert tickets were selling like gangbusters, with fans eager to see their favorite band perform live.

Synonyms

to fly off the shelf
vsto sell like gangbusters
7 3.9

To sell very quickly because many people want it

applies more broadly to rapid purchase success beyond only products
to sell like hot cakes
vsto sell like gangbusters
  • Informal
1 3.3

To be bought quickly by many people

focuses on quick success rather than emphasizing purchase volume
to take the market by storm
vsto sell like gangbusters
4.4

To become very popular with customers and sell a lot very quickly

is about rapid purchase of items rather than broad buyer reach
to take off like gangbusters
vsto sell like gangbusters
  • Informal
8.2

Become very popular or successful very quickly

is focused on very fast purchase success rather than general popularity

Antonyms

to unsell
8.4

To fail to sell even after trying

How Fast

to sell like gangbusters
  • Informal
1 7.2
to sell off
57 3.5

Surface Forms

sell like gangbusters infinitive
selling like gangbusters present participle
sells like gangbusters third person singular
sold like gangbusters past
sold like gangbusters past participle

Morphology

sell + like + gangbusters

This is a straightforward simile built from 'sell' (to transfer by sale) + 'like' (indicating similarity) + 'gangbusters' (denoting great energetic success). If a learner knows the constituent meanings — including that 'gangbusters' means proceeding with great success — the overall sense 'to sell extremely quickly or successfully' is directly derivable, following a common compositional pattern.

Etymology

Sell like gangbusters may come from a loud old radio show called 'Gang Busters', where police raids were announced with big bangs and dramatic action. So, because that image suggests great force and speed, to sell 'like gangbusters' now means 'to sell very quickly'.