sell like hotcakes
Meaning
To sell very quickly and in large quantities because something is in high demand.
Origin
From the 19th-century idea that hot cakes (griddle cakes) sold rapidly when served fresh and hot, so the phrase became a metaphor for anything bought up quickly.
Notes
Positive, often promotional tone implying high demand and fast sales (sometimes hyperbolic). Common in conversation, media, and marketing; used mainly for products or tickets.
Examples
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The new limited-edition sneakers sold like hotcakes within an hour of the launch.
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Her homemade cookies always sell like hotcakes at the weekend farmers' market.
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After the celebrity endorsement, the skincare set started selling like hotcakes online.
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Tickets for the reunion concert are selling like hotcakes, so donβt wait to buy yours.
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When the temperature dropped, space heaters sold like hotcakes across the city.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Used with a subject + sell (often in simple past/present): βIt sells/sold like hotcakes.β Can take modifiers (really, practically). Rarely used in passive. Fixed βlike hotcakes.β
Synonyms
- sell fast
- sell quickly
- sell like crazy
- fly off the shelves
- be snapped up
Antonyms
- sell slowly
- languish on the shelves
- be hard to sell