Auction meaning in English
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Definition
(to sell something) at (an) auction: (to sell something) to the person who offers the most money
an auction house: a place where objects are sold (to the highest bidder)
an auction: (an) event where products are sold to the highest bidder, to the person who offers the most money
an auction website: an Internet location for selling products to the person who offers the most money
Examples
- "Online record shops are more and more numerous, and auction websites that sell second-hand vinyl records are booming."
- "I've never been to an auction before."
- "I could sell these items at auction, but I thought I'd let my dear colleagues have a chance to buy them first."
Exercise 1
Put words that were used in the audio into the following blanks.
Bruno and Hannah are attending an . This is a public sale where merchandise (often art) is sold for the highest price.
To purchase a painting at these places, one has to for it. This is to offer an amount of money in order to buy it.
Bruno and Hannah are attending an . This is a public sale where merchandise (often art) is sold for the highest price.
To purchase a painting at these places, one has to for it. This is to offer an amount of money in order to buy it.
Put words that were used in the audio into the following blanks.
Bruno and Hannah are attending an auction 1. This is a public sale where merchandise (often art) is sold for the highest price.
To purchase a painting at these places, one has to bid 2 for it. This is to offer an amount of money in order to buy it.
Bruno and Hannah are attending an auction 1. This is a public sale where merchandise (often art) is sold for the highest price.
To purchase a painting at these places, one has to bid 2 for it. This is to offer an amount of money in order to buy it.
1 auction: An "auction" is a public sale where things are sold to the highest price. Common things that are sold at auctions are art and paintings, automobiles, property and furniture. The person who directs an auction is called an auctioneer.
2 bid: The word "bid" has several meanings, but in this context, it refers to offering or proposing money for an item or service. Usually, at an auction, one will "bid" for an item. This involves signalling to the auctioneer that you are offering a sum of money to buy the item for sale. In the audio, Hannah wants to bid for a painting she likes. Note "to bid" is irregular: bid/bid/(have) bid.
Exercise 2
Choose the TRUE statements from the list below based on Brian's email.
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
Choose the TRUE statements from the list below based on Brian's email.
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
This statement is true, and the main purpose of Brian's email. Brian writes, "there are some things I need to get rid of", he means that he no longer wants some of his possessions. To "get rid of (something)" is to dispose of it. Example: "I'd like to get rid of these old socks; they've got holes in them."
This statement is false. Brian writes that he is "Spring cleaning" his apartment (cleaning and organizing that is traditionally done at the beginning of the Spring). Brian is not "moving out", a term which describes leaving one's home or apartment, generally to move into another one.
This statement is false. Brian writes that rather than sell his items at auction, (an event where people "bid" or "make offers" to purchase items, and the item is eventually sold to the highest "bidder"), he is offering his colleagues the first chance to purchase his possessions.
This statement is true. Brian writes that some of his clothes are "quite valuable". A "valuable (ring)" is one which has value, or is "worth" something (either a lot of money, or it has sentimental value).
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