SHOPPING VOCABULARY

To go shopping – to go to the shops to buy things

Sentence – I won’t be home until 6pm tonight because i’m going shopping after work.

To do the shopping – the activity of buying items from shops

Sentence – I hate doing the shopping as it’s always so crowded in the supermarket.

Goods – things that are sold

Sentence – department stores have a wide range of goods on sale.

Window shopping – the activity of looking at goods for sale, especially in shop window displays, without the intention of buying anything

Sentence – one of my favourite activities on a Saturday is to go window shopping with my friends to see the latest fashions.

Bargain hunting – looking for products that are good value for money, usually because they are on sale at a lower price than normal

Sentence – i love bargain hunting and feel great when i find something i need at a knock-down price.

Shop around – compare prices before buying something

Sentence – i always shop around before buying high value items as prices can vary considerably.

Browse – looking at things in one or more shops without a firm intention to buy anything

Sentence – when i go into town, i often browse around the clothes shops to see if i can pick up any bargains.

Retail therapy – the practise of buying things in order to make yourself feel better when you are unhappy

Sentence – i need some retail therapy to help me get over the disappointment of not getting a promotion at work.

To go on a shopping spree – a short period of time in which someone
buys a lot of things

Sentence – i’ll have to go on a shopping spree before my holiday next month as I’ve lost so much weight that my beachwear doesn’t fit me anymore.

Hit the shops / stores – to go on a shopping spree

Sentence – i’m taking a bus into the city with some friends on saturday and we’re going to hit the shops.

An impulse buy – an unplanned purchase when something is bought suddenly without careful thought

Sentence – my waterproof jacket was an impulse buy as i was actually looking for some new walking boots, but it was such a bargain that i just had to get it.