sale
noun
seɪl 
seɪl 
1 [uncountable, countable] an act or the process of selling somethingregulations governing the sale of alcoholic beveragesI haven't made a sale all week.She gets 10% commission on each sale.2 sales [plural] the number of items soldRetail sales fell in November by 10%.Export sales were up by 32% last year.the sales figures for Maya sales drive/campaign (= a special effort to sell more)3 sales [uncountable] (also sales department [countable]) the part of a company that deals with selling its productsa sales and marketing directorShe works in sales/in the sales department.The Weldon Group has a 6000 strong sales force.4 [countable] an occasion when a shop/store sells its goods at a lower price than usualThe sale starts next week.the January salesI bought a coat in the sales.sale prices5 [countable] an occasion when goods are sold, especially an auctiona contemporary art sale see also car boot sale, garage sale, jumble saleIdioms
for sale
available to be bought, especially from the owner
I'm sorry, it's not for sale.They've put their house up for sale.an increase in the number of stolen vehicles being offered for salea ‘for sale’ signon sale
1 available to be bought, especially in a shop/storeTickets are on sale from the booking office.The new model goes on sale next month.2 (especially North American English, South African English) being offered at a reduced priceAll video equipment is on sale today and tomorrow.(on) sale or return
(British English) (of goods) supplied with the agreement that any item that is not sold can be sent back without having to be paid for
Usage note: BusinessRunning a businessbuy/acquire/own/sell a company/firm/franchiseset up/establish/ start/start up/launch a business/companyrun/operate a business/company/franchisehead/run a firm/department/teammake/secure/win/block a dealexpand/grow/build the businessboost/increase investment/spending/sales/turnover/earnings/exports/tradeincrease/expand production/output/salesboost/maximize production/productivity/efficiency/income/revenue/profit/profitabilityachieve/maintain/sustain growth/profitabilitycut/reduce/bring down/lower/slash costs/pricesannounce/impose/make cuts/cutbacksSales and marketingbreak into/enter/capture/dominate the marketgain/grab/take/win/boost/lose market sharefind/build/create a market for somethingstart/launch an advertising/a marketing campaigndevelop/launch/promote a product/websitecreate/generate demand for your productattract/get/retain/help customers/clientsdrive/generate/boost/increase demand/salesbeat/keep ahead of/out-think/outperform the competitionmeet/reach/exceed/miss sales targetsFinancedraw up/set/present/agree/approve a budgetkeep to/balance/cut/reduce/slash the budgetbe/come in below/under/over/within budgetgenerate income/revenue/profit/funds/businessfund/finance a campaign/a venture/an expansion/spending/a deficitprovide/raise/allocate capital/fundsattract/encourage investment/investorsrecover/recoup costs/losses/an investmentget/obtain/offer somebody/grant somebody credit/a loanapply for/raise/secure/arrange/provide financeFailurelose business/trade/customers/sales/revenueaccumulate/accrue/incur/run up debtssuffer/sustain enormous/heavy/serious lossesface cuts/a deficit/redundancy/bankruptcyfile for/(North American English) enter/avoid/escape bankruptcy(British English) go into administration/liquidationliquidate/wind up a companysurvive/weather a recession/downturnpropose/seek/block/oppose a mergerlaunch/make/accept/defeat a takeover bid