20 Essential Collocations

Collocations meaning in English with examples

English collocations with Sale

Introduction:

In English, certain words tend to go together in natural combinations. These word pairs or groups are called “collocations.” Learning them is an important step in building your fluency because native speakers use them instinctively. If you’re learning English for business or simply to improve your communication skills, understanding collocations with words like “sales” is crucial.

In this blog, we’ll go over 20 essential collocations with the word “sales.” Each collocation will come with a clear definition and an example sentence to show you how it works in context. These collocations will help you describe everything from rising or falling sales trends to strategies for boosting sales.

Top 20 Collocations with “Sales”:

Sales go up
Definition: To describe when the number of sales increases.
Example: Sales go up across the country as a result of improving weather conditions.
Sales go down
Definition: To indicate when sales decrease.
Example: After the holiday season, sales go down significantly.
Boost sales
Definition: To increase sales, typically by using a strategy or method.
Example: The new advertising campaign helped boost sales by 30%.
Increase sales
Definition: To make sales grow in number.
Example: The company aims to increase sales by offering discounts during the holiday season.
Sales rise
Definition: A formal way to say that sales are increasing.
Example: Sales rise steadily during the summer months when more tourists visit the city.
Sales decline
Definition: To describe a reduction in the number of sales over time.
Example: Due to changes in the market, sales decline for most electronic products.
Record sales
Definition: To have an all-time high in sales performance.
Example: The latest iPhone model achieved record sales during its launch week.
Sales drop
Definition: To indicate a sharp decline in sales.
Example: Sales drop sharply after the introduction of a competitor’s cheaper product.
Drive sales
Definition: To stimulate or increase sales by using a specific action or campaign.
Example: The holiday discount promotion helped drive sales significantly during December.
Sales surge
Definition: To describe a sudden and large increase in sales.
Example: Sales surge during Black Friday as people look for the best deals.
Sales slow down
Definition: When sales growth decreases or becomes less rapid.
Example: Sales slow down after the holiday rush, with fewer customers visiting stores.
Sales pick up
Definition: When sales start to increase again after a period of being low.
Example: After a slow start to the year, sales pick up in the spring.
Generate sales
Definition: To create or cause sales to happen.
Example: Social media advertising is an effective way to generate sales for small businesses.
Forecast sales
Definition: To predict how many sales will happen in the future.
Example: Based on last year’s performance, the company forecasts sales will grow by 15% this year.
Sales flatten
Definition: When sales stop increasing or decreasing and remain at a consistent level.
Example: After a year of rapid growth, sales flatten as the market reaches saturation.
Maximize sales
Definition: To increase sales to the greatest possible amount.
Example: The retailer is trying to maximize sales by offering extended holiday shopping hours.
Cut sales
Definition: To intentionally reduce the number of products being sold.
Example: To avoid overproduction, the company decided to cut sales in less profitable regions.
Sales fluctuate
Definition: When sales go up and down frequently over a period of time.
Example: Sales fluctuate during the early stages of product development due to market uncertainty.
Sales plateau
Definition: When sales growth levels off and stops increasing.
Example: After five years of growth, the company’s sales plateau, showing no significant change.
Sales plummet
Definition: To fall dramatically and quickly.
Example: After the negative press coverage, sales plummet, leaving the company in a difficult position.

Using Collocations to Improve Your English Fluency

Collocations are key to sounding natural in English. Using them correctly helps you avoid awkward or incorrect phrasing. For example, instead of saying “sales grow fast,” a native speaker would likely say “sales surge” or “sales increase rapidly.” By learning these common pairings, you’ll make your speech sound more like that of a fluent English speaker.

To get the most out of this list, try incorporating these collocations into your daily language practice. Whether you’re discussing trends in a business meeting, writing an email to a client, or reading a sales report, these collocations will help you describe sales situations accurately and effectively.

Practice Exercise:

To further enhance your understanding of these collocations, try completing the following sentences using the correct collocation from the list above:

After the launch of the new product, _______ (fill in the blank) surged.
The company is trying to _______ (fill in the blank) sales by improving its customer service.
After a strong start, sales began to _______ (fill in the blank) due to increased competition.
Thanks to the holiday season, sales have _______ (fill in the blank) by 50%.

Understanding and using collocations with “sales” can greatly improve your English fluency, especially in business contexts. Whether you’re talking about an increase or decrease in sales, learning these word combinations will allow you to express yourself more naturally. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using these collocations with ease!