salesman
gb/sˈeɪlzmən/ us/sˈeɪlzmən/
B1
English
~ 8700
eladó, értékesítő, üzletkötő, született értékesítő, született üzletkötő
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[a/this] salesman sells [something] to [someone]
The car salesman explained all the features of the new model.
Az autóértékesítő elmagyarázta az új modell összes funkcióját.
A door-to-door salesman tried to sell us a vacuum cleaner yesterday.
Egy házaló ügynök tegnap megpróbált eladni nekünk egy porszívót.
She asked the salesman if the jacket was available in a larger size.
The company sent a salesman to visit their biggest clients in the region.
The electronics store hired three new salesmen before the holiday season.
Learner examples
The salesman showed me a cheaper phone.
Az eladó megmutatott nekem egy olcsóbb telefont.
I asked the salesman for help with the TV.
Segítséget kértem az eladótól a tévével kapcsolatban.
A salesman came to our house to sell windows.
The salesman in that shop is very friendly.
My brother works as a car salesman.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "salesman" for women; the more correct term in modern English is "saleswoman" for a female or "salesperson" when gender is not known or not important. Another common mistake is using the regular plural *salesmans*; the correct plural is *salesmen*. Learners may also confuse "salesman" with "seller": a seller can be any person or company that sells, but a salesman is usually an employee whose job is selling.
Meaning
man whose job is selling
Collocations
car salesman
|used-car salesman
|door-to-door salesman
|traveling salesman
|shoe salesman
|pushy salesman
Synonyms
salesperson (Gender-neutral term; can refer to a man or woman, slightly more formal and modern than "salesman".)
|
sales clerk (Common in American English for a shop/retail worker; usually used for people working behind a counter, not those visiting clients.)
|
sales representative (More formal and often used for someone who visits customers or manages accounts rather than working only in a store.)
Antonyms
customer (Opposite role in a sales situation: the person buying instead of the person selling.)
|
buyer (Focuses on the person who purchases, which is the opposite side of a transaction from the salesman.)
Themes
business
|work
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A man who sells things as his job, for example in a store or by visiting people.
A man whose job is to sell goods or services, especially in a shop, showroom, or by visiting customers.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a [born/natural] salesman
He might be an engineer, but when he talks about his product, he sounds like a real salesman.
Lehet, hogy mérnök, de amikor a termékéről beszél, igazi értékesítőnek hangzik.
She said her father was such a good salesman that he could sell ice to penguins.
Azt mondta, az apja olyan jó értékesítő volt, hogy még a pingvineknek is el tudott volna adni jeget.
The candidate came across more as a smooth salesman than as a serious leader.
Everyone agrees that the coach is a great salesman for the team’s brand.
You need to be a bit of a salesman if you want people to support your idea.
Learner examples
My uncle is a real salesman; people always buy from him.
A nagybátyám született értékesítő; az emberek mindig vásárolnak tőle.
You must be a good salesman to market your own art.
Jó értékesítőnek kell lenned ahhoz, hogy a saját művészetedet reklámozd.
He is not a strong salesman, so he does not sell many cars.
The manager is a great salesman and can get big contracts.
To start this business, I need to become a better salesman.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this word can only describe an official job. In this sense, "salesman" can also describe a man’s strong ability to persuade or promote, even if selling is not his main profession. Note that this meaning is still gendered; for mixed or unknown gender, phrases like "great at sales" or "a natural at sales" are preferred.
Meaning
man very good at selling
Collocations
born salesman
|natural salesman
|good salesman
|great salesman
|talented salesman
Synonyms
natural salesman (Emphasizes inborn talent for selling; often used with positive admiration.)
|
persuader (More general; someone good at convincing others, not only in selling situations.)
Antonyms
poor salesman (Describes someone who is bad at selling, the opposite of being skilled or effective.)
|
unconvincing speaker (Focuses on the inability to persuade, which contrasts with the persuasive skill of a good salesman.)
Themes
business
|communication
|personality
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A man who is very good at making people buy things, even if selling is not his main job.
A man who is particularly skilled and effective at selling or persuading people to buy things, sometimes regardless of his official job title.
Grammar
Dictionary form
salesman
IPA
GB/sˈeɪlzmən/
US/sˈeɪlzmən/
Syllables & stress
sales - man (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sales)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: salesman
- Plural: salesmen
Word family
Forms
salesmen
noun
Related words
salesperson
noun B1
saleswoman
noun B1
Advanced or less common
salesmanship
noun C1
Expressions
born salesman
1/bˈɔɹn sˈeɪlzmən/
fixed phrase
informal
man naturally very good at selling
A man who is naturally very good at selling things, without needing much training.
Examples
- Even as a child, he could talk anyone into anything; he’s a born salesman.
- She called her brother a born salesman because people always agree to buy from him.
door-to-door salesman
1/dˈɔɹ tə dˈɔɹ sˈeɪlzmən/
fixed phrase
salesman who visits homes to sell
A salesman who walks from house to house and tries to sell things to people in their homes.
Examples
- A door-to-door salesman tried to sell me a new internet service yesterday.
- Door-to-door salesmen are less common now because many people shop online.
natural salesman
1/nˈæt͡ʃɚəl sˈeɪlzmən/
fixed phrase
man naturally skilled at selling
A man who is very good at selling things in a way that seems easy and natural for him.
Examples
- With his easy smile and clear explanations, he’s a natural salesman.
- They hired him because he is a natural salesman who connects quickly with customers.
traveling salesman
1/tɹˈævəlɪŋ sˈeɪlzmən/
fixed phrase
salesman who travels to customers
A salesman whose job is to travel to many towns or regions to visit customers and sell products.
Examples
- His grandfather worked as a traveling salesman, visiting small towns across the country.
- Being a traveling salesman can be tiring because you are often away from home.
used-car salesman
1/jˈust kˈɑɹ sˈeɪlzmən/
fixed phrase
person who sells second-hand cars
A person, usually a man, who sells cars that are not new anymore.
Examples
- The used-car salesman offered us a good price on a five-year-old sedan.
- Many people are careful when dealing with a used-car salesman because they worry about the car’s condition.