General
sell-off
What does sell-off mean?
A burst of heavy selling that drives a stock, sector or whole market down fast. Different from a slow grind lower — a sell-off has pace and panic to it. Often kicked off by a data print, a downgrade, or a tweet.
"Brutal sell-off in tech after the CPI print — Nasdaq down three percent before lunch."
Origin
Jamaican dancehall slang, from English 'sell off' (sold out).
Frequently asked questions
What does 'sell off' mean in Jamaican slang?
It describes something excellent or hugely successful. Saying 'di party sell off' means the party was a massive success.
Where does 'sell off' come from?
From the English 'sell off' meaning sold out — a sold-out event became shorthand for anything top quality.
How do you use 'sell off'?
As an adjective of praise for an event, performance, outfit or thing, as in 'trust mi, di dance sell off'.
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