Sell oneself
sell oneself
sell oneself
1.
Convince another of one’s merits, present oneself in a favorable light, as in A job interview is an ideal opportunity to sell oneself to a prospective employer. Originally this idiom, dating from the second half of the 1700s, alluded to selling one’s services for money, but it was being used more loosely by the mid-1800s.
2.
Compromise one’s principles for monetary gain. An early version was sell oneself (or one’s soul) to the devil, which alluded to enlisting the devil’s help in exchange for one’s soul after death. It is embodied in the legend of Faust, first recorded in the late 1500s.
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- Sellout
noun 1. an act or instance of selling out. 2. an entertainment, as a show or athletic event, for which all the seats are sold. 3. Informal. a person who betrays a cause, organization, or the like; traitor. 4. Informal. a person who compromises his or her personal values, integrity, talent, or the like, for […]
- Sell-out
verb (used with object), sold, selling. 1. to transfer (goods) to or render (services) for another in exchange for money; dispose of to a purchaser for a price: He sold the car to me for $1000. 2. to deal in; keep or offer for sale: He sells insurance. This store sells my favorite brand. 3. […]
- Sell someone down the river
sell someone down the river
- Sell someone on
Convince or persuade someone of the worth or desirability of something, as in They were hoping to sell enough legislators on their bill so that it would pass easily, or Dave was really sold on that new car. [ ; early 1900s ]