Part 1: Shopping Collocations
Collocations are words that naturally go together. Native speakers use these combinations automatically!
Adjectives + Shopping
| Collocation | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| bargain price | "I got this dress at a bargain price!" | Very cheap price |
| window shopping | "We're just window shopping today." | Looking without buying |
| impulse buy | "That was an impulse buy, I didn't need it." | Unplanned purchase |
| retail therapy | "I need some retail therapy after this week!" | Shopping to feel better |
| shopping spree | "She went on a shopping spree and spent £500." | Buying many things |
| special offer | "There's a special offer on shoes this week." | Temporary discount |
Verbs + Shopping
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| browse the shops | "Let's browse the shops this afternoon." |
| try something on | "Can I try this on in a size medium?" |
| shop around | "I always shop around for the best price." |
| splash out | "I splashed out on a new laptop." |
| get a refund | "I returned the item and got a full refund." |
Practice: Collocations
Exercise 1: Complete the collocations
1. I got this jacket at a price! (bargain/cheap)
2. We're just shopping, not buying. (window/looking)
3. That was an buy, I didn't plan it. (impulse/sudden)
4. She went on a shopping and spent a fortune. (spree/trip)
5. I need some retail after this stressful week. (therapy/treatment)
Part 2: Shopping Idioms
Idioms are expressions with meanings different from the literal words. They make your English sound natural!
Common Shopping Idioms:
- Cost an arm and a leg - Very expensive
"That designer bag cost an arm and a leg!" - Dirt cheap - Very inexpensive
"I got these shoes dirt cheap in the sale." - Pay through the nose - Pay too much
"We paid through the nose for those concert tickets." - Shop till you drop - Shop for a long time
"Let's shop till we drop this weekend!" - A steal - Very good price
"At £20, this coat is a steal!" - Rip-off - Overpriced/unfair price
"£10 for a coffee? That's a rip-off!" - Money to burn - Lots of money to spend
"He must have money to burn, buying such expensive things." - Get your money's worth - Good value
"This jacket is quality - you'll get your money's worth."
Practice: Idioms
Exercise 2: Match the idiom to its meaning
1. "That car cost an arm and a !" (leg/foot)
2. "These jeans were dirt in the sale." (cheap/free)
3. "At £5, this shirt is a !" (steal/bargain)
4. "£15 for a sandwich? That's a !" (rip-off/steal)
5. "Let's shop till we this weekend!" (drop/stop)
Part 3: Shopping Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are verbs combined with prepositions or adverbs that create new meanings!
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| try on | Test clothes before buying | "Can I try on this dress?" |
| shop around | Compare prices at different stores | "I always shop around before buying electronics." |
| pick up | Buy casually | "I picked up some milk on the way home." |
| splash out | Spend a lot of money | "I splashed out on a new phone." |
| take back | Return an item | "I need to take back these shoes, they don't fit." |
| snap up | Buy quickly (good deal) | "I snapped up those tickets before they sold out." |
| sell out | All items sold | "The new iPhone sold out in hours." |
| knock down | Reduce price | "They knocked down the price by 50%." |
Usage Tips:
Try on is only for clothes/shoes - not for other products
Splash out is informal - use "spend a lot" in formal contexts
Shop around shows you're a smart shopper looking for deals
Practice: Phrasal Verbs
Exercise 3: Complete with the correct phrasal verb
1. Can I on this jacket? (try/put)
2. I always around for the best price. (shop/look)
3. I out on a new laptop. (splashed/spent)
4. I need to back these shoes. (take/bring)
5. The concert tickets out in minutes. (sold/went)
Well done! You've mastered shopping vocabulary - time to hit the shops!