sale

Everyday

1. A sale is selling something: the sale of a house. tree →
2. A sale is a time when things cost less than usual: a summer sale. tree →
3. «For sale» means someone wants to sell it. tree →
4. «On sale» means it can be bought, or (USA) that it is cheaper than usual. tree →
5. Sales are the number of things sold, or the money from them. tree →
6. A bake sale or yard sale is an event to sell things. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: prices cut by an amount or percent; things sold counted; money from sales; new price = old price − discount. In everyday life: bake sales to raise money, garage sales, «for sale» signs. In stories: a house for sale with a secret.

Examples

• Shirts are on sale for $5 off. tree →
• The bake sale made $120. tree →
• During the sale, prices are 20% less. tree →
• How many tickets were sold at the sale? tree →
• Our class had a bake sale for charity. tree →
• The house next door is for sale. tree →
• Tickets go on sale on Monday. tree →
• Sales of ice cream go up in summer. tree →
• We sold old toys at a yard sale. tree →
• "It's not for sale, my good man." tree →

Note

«On sale» means a lower price: new price = old price − discount. Sales may be money taken in. Trap: «$5 off» is subtracted, «sells for $5» is the price itself. Trap: «20% off» means pay 80%. Homophone: sail (on a boat). «For sale» = can be bought; in the UK «on sale» usually just means available in shops.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah a field sold cannot be sold forever, since the land belongs to God. It returns to the family in the Jubilee year.

Interpretation. The Jubilee (yovel) law means land is really leased, with the price counted by the years until the return. This keeps families from losing their land for good.

Examples

• then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; and he shall return unto his possession. (Torah LEV.25.27, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«On sale» means a lower price: new price = old price − discount. Sales may be money taken in. Trap: «$5 off» is subtracted, «sells for $5» is the price itself. Trap: «20% off» means pay 80%. Homophone: sail (on a boat). «For sale» = can be bought; in the UK «on sale» usually just means available in shops.