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sell up

B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To sell everything you own — like your house or business — usually because you are moving or stopping what you do.

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

To sell one's entire business, home, or possessions, usually in order to retire, relocate, or cease operations.

"After thirty years in the trade, he decided to sell up and retire to Portugal."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 neutral

To sell all assets of a company in order to pay off debts or close the business.

"With debts mounting, the owners had no choice but to sell up."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Common in British English. Implies a total, final sale rather than a partial one. Often used when someone is retiring, relocating, or facing financial difficulties. Can also be used transitively: 'they sold up their farm'.

Commonly used with

business farm property house shop everything

Forms

Base
sell up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sells up
he/she/it
Past simple
sold up
yesterday
Past participle
sold up
have + pp
-ing form
selling up
continuous

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