How do you use "Sell like hotcakes" in a sentence?

The new game is selling like hotcakes. Concert tickets sold like hotcakes. Her book is selling like hotcakes.

Sell like hotcakes

Q: What does "Sell like hotcakes" mean?

To sell very quickly and in large quantities. Products that are extremely popular and sell rapidly. Hotcakes (pancakes) at fairs traditionally sold very quickly.

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: To sell very quickly and in large quantities.

卖得非常快，大卖。

Venderse muy rápido y en grandes cantidades.

飛ぶように売れる、大量に素早く売れる。

날개 돋친 듯 팔리다, 대량으로 빠르게 팔리다.

Products that are extremely popular and sell rapidly. Hotcakes (pancakes) at fairs traditionally sold very quickly.

非常受欢迎、迅速售罄的产品。源自集市上的煎饼卖得很快。

Productos extremadamente populares que se venden rápidamente. Los hotcakes (tortitas) en las ferias tradicionalmente se vendían muy rápido.

非常に人気があり急速に売れる商品。フェアでホットケーキ（パンケーキ）がすぐに売れることに由来。

매우 인기가 있어서 빠르게 팔리는 제품. 장터에서 핫케이크(팬케이크)가 매우 빨리 팔렸던 것에서 유래한 표현.

Literal meaning: Sell as quickly as fresh pancakes

Examples

The new game is selling like hotcakes.
新游戏卖疯了
El nuevo juego se vende como churros
新しいゲームが飛ぶように売れている
새 게임이 불티나게 팔리고 있다.
Concert tickets sold like hotcakes.
演唱会门票一抢而空
Las entradas del concierto volaron
コンサートのチケットは即完売だった
콘서트 티켓은 순식간에 매진되었다.
Her book is selling like hotcakes.
她的书卖得特别火
Su libro se vende como rosquillas
彼女の本は飛ぶように売れている
그녀의 책은 불티나게 팔리고 있다.

Pronunciation

/sel laɪk ˈhɒtkeɪks/

Usage Guide

Context: sales, popularity, commercial success

Tone: impressed, pleased

✓ Do Say

Selling like hotcakes.
卖得特别火
Se vende como rosquillas
飛ぶように売れている
불티나게 팔리고 있어
Sold like hotcakes.
卖得特别火爆
Se vendio como rosquillas
飛ぶように売れた
불티나게 팔렸어
Going like hotcakes.
畅销得不得了
Se esta vendiendo como rosquillas
大人気で売れまくっている
엄청나게 잘 팔리고 있어

✗ Don't Say

Selling very well
Selling very well（不够形象）
Selling very well（menos expresivo）
Selling very well（インパクトがない）
Selling very well (생동감 없음)
Very popular
Very popular（太普通）
Very popular（demasiado simple）
Very popular（表現が弱い）
Very popular (너무 평범함)

Common Mistakes

American expression
British might say 'selling like hot cakes'

Origin & History

From pancakes (hotcakes) selling quickly at fairs and events.

Etymology: American

First recorded: 19th century

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: American culture; Business news

Regional notes: American origin but understood worldwide.

Variations

Sell like hotcakesSelling like hotcakesGoing like hotcakes