sell like hotcakes
To be bought quickly and in large quantities
Littéralement: To be sold in the same manner as hot cakes (pancakes).
Use this to describe a popular product that people are rushing to buy with great enthusiasm.
En 15 secondes
- Used when a product sells very quickly and in high volume.
- Implies high demand and great popularity for an item.
- Works for both physical goods and digital products or tickets.
Signification
This phrase describes something that is being bought very quickly. It means people are excited to get it and it's disappearing from shelves almost instantly.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Discussing a new phone launch
The new iPhone is selling like hotcakes despite the high price tag.
The new iPhone is being bought very quickly despite the high price.
At a school bake sale
Your homemade brownies are selling like hotcakes, Sarah!
Your brownies are being bought very fast, Sarah!
In a professional sales meeting
If we keep selling like hotcakes, we will hit our quarterly goal by Monday.
If sales continue at this rapid pace, we will reach our goal.
Contexte culturel
The phrase originated in 19th-century America, referring to cornmeal pancakes sold at outdoor events. These 'hot cakes' were a staple of communal gatherings and were known for being sold as fast as they could be fried. It reflects the fast-paced, consumer-oriented nature of American commerce that began to flourish in that era.
Don't overthink the 'Hot'
You can use this for cold things too! Ice cream can `sell like hotcakes` on a summer day. The 'hot' refers to the speed of the sale, not the temperature.
The Pancake Connection
In the UK, people sometimes say 'sell like hot cakes' (two words), but the meaning is identical. In the US, it's almost always one word.
En 15 secondes
- Used when a product sells very quickly and in high volume.
- Implies high demand and great popularity for an item.
- Works for both physical goods and digital products or tickets.
What It Means
Imagine a stack of warm, fluffy pancakes at a busy breakfast stall. They are delicious, cheap, and everyone wants one right now. That is the essence of sell like hotcakes. It describes a product that is incredibly popular. It implies the demand is much higher than the supply. You use it when sales are effortless and fast. It is the ultimate compliment for a new business or product.
How To Use It
This phrase usually functions as a verb in a sentence. You can use it in the past, present, or future tense. For example, The tickets sold like hotcakes. You can also use it for digital items, not just physical goods. If your new app gets 1,000 downloads in an hour, it is selling like hotcakes. Just remember to keep the hotcakes plural. Nobody says it is selling like a 'hotcake'—that sounds like a lonely breakfast.
When To Use It
You can use this in many everyday situations. It is perfect for talking about the latest tech gadgets. Use it when discussing a popular new book or movie tickets. It works well in business meetings to describe a successful launch. You can even use it at a garage sale. If your old records are gone in ten minutes, they sold like hotcakes. It adds a bit of energy and excitement to your description.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using this for very expensive or serious items. You wouldn't say 'Luxury mansions are selling like hotcakes.' It feels a bit too casual for high-end real estate. Also, do not use it for things people buy out of necessity. If there is a bread shortage, people are 'panic buying,' not buying 'like hotcakes.' It should imply that the item is desirable and fun. Don't use it in a legal contract or a very somber academic paper.
Cultural Background
This idiom dates back to the 1800s in North America. Back then, 'hotcakes' were what we now call pancakes or griddle cakes. They were very popular at church socials and fairs. Because they were served hot and fresh, people lined up to buy them. They were cheap, tasty, and sold out almost immediately. The phrase has stuck around for over 200 years because everyone understands the joy of a fresh pancake.
Common Variations
There aren't many ways to change the wording of this specific idiom. You must keep the hotcakes part intact. However, you can change the verb occasionally. Some people might say they are going like hotcakes. This means the same thing—they are leaving the store quickly. In British English, you might occasionally hear sell like hot cakes as two words. In the US, it is almost always one word: hotcakes.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is widely understood across all English-speaking countries. It is safe for work but adds a touch of color and enthusiasm to your speech.
Don't overthink the 'Hot'
You can use this for cold things too! Ice cream can `sell like hotcakes` on a summer day. The 'hot' refers to the speed of the sale, not the temperature.
The Pancake Connection
In the UK, people sometimes say 'sell like hot cakes' (two words), but the meaning is identical. In the US, it's almost always one word.
Keep it Plural
Always use the plural `hotcakes`. Saying something is 'selling like a hotcake' sounds very strange to a native speaker.
Exemples
6The new iPhone is selling like hotcakes despite the high price tag.
The new iPhone is being bought very quickly despite the high price.
Shows the phrase works even for expensive electronics if they are trendy.
Your homemade brownies are selling like hotcakes, Sarah!
Your brownies are being bought very fast, Sarah!
A literal and perfect use for food items.
If we keep selling like hotcakes, we will hit our quarterly goal by Monday.
If sales continue at this rapid pace, we will reach our goal.
Used here to motivate a team and describe success.
Better hurry, the Taylor Swift tickets are selling like hotcakes!
Hurry up, the tickets are disappearing fast!
Commonly used for events that sell out instantly.
It's so cold today that these cheap heaters are selling like hotcakes.
The heaters are selling fast because of the weather.
Uses the 'hot' in hotcakes to contrast with the cold weather.
I thought my art would sell like hotcakes, but I haven't sold a single piece.
I expected my art to be very popular, but it wasn't.
Expresses disappointment by comparing reality to the idiom.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct word to complete the idiom.
The new video game is so popular that it's selling like ___.
The standard idiom is always `sell like hotcakes`. Even though pancakes are similar, they aren't used in this expression.
Which situation best fits the use of 'selling like hotcakes'?
The store owner was happy because his new hats were ___.
This idiom is the natural way to describe fast, successful sales in English.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Sell like hotcakes'
Too established to be slang.
N/A
Perfect for friends and family.
These cookies are selling like hotcakes!
Great for office talk and news.
The new software is selling like hotcakes.
A bit too colorful for a legal brief.
The assets were liquidated rapidly (Better).
Where to use 'Sell like hotcakes'
Tech Launch
New VR headsets
Local Market
Fresh strawberries
Entertainment
Movie premiere tickets
Fashion
Limited edition sneakers
Questions fréquentes
11 questionsIt means something is being bought very quickly and in large numbers. It's used to describe a very successful product, like saying The new book is selling like hotcakes.
Yes, absolutely! Even though 'hotcakes' are physical, the idiom works for apps, e-books, and digital tickets.
Yes, it is considered 'neutral' to 'informal.' It is very common in sales meetings to describe a successful product launch.
No, that's not a standard idiom in English. You must use hotcakes to be understood correctly.
While it is an old phrase, it is still very commonly used today in news, business, and daily conversation.
You might say something is sitting on the shelves or not moving. There isn't a direct 'cake' idiom for slow sales.
Usually, yes. However, you can say things are going like hotcakes to mean they are being taken or used up quickly.
In the 1800s, hotcakes were a popular, cheap treat at fairs that sold out almost as soon as they were made.
No, you wouldn't say a person is selling like hotcakes. It is strictly for products, services, or items.
Both are technically correct, but hotcakes as one word is much more common in modern American English.
Yes, if a new gym opens and everyone signs up immediately, you could say memberships are selling like hotcakes.
Expressions liées
Fly off the shelves
Going fast
A runaway success
In high demand
Out the door
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