Shopping is something we all do, whether it’s buying clothes, food, or gifts. When you go shopping in an English-speaking country, knowing some useful English phrases can make your experience smoother and more confident. This lesson will help you learn simple and practical shopping expressions that are easy to understand and use in real life.
What Are Shopping and Bargaining Phrases?
Shopping phrases are short expressions used when buying things or asking about prices. Bargaining phrases are used when you want to negotiate or lower a price politely. These phrases help you communicate clearly with shopkeepers, sellers, or cashiers.
Example Contexts:
- At a clothing shop: “Can I try this on?”
- At a market: “Can you give me a discount?”
- At a supermarket: “Where can I find the bread section?”
Common English Phrases for Shopping
Here are some useful expressions you can use while shopping:
| Situation | Useful Phrases |
|---|---|
| Asking for help | Can you help me, please? I’m looking for a blue shirt. |
| Asking about price | How much does it cost? Is this on sale? |
| Asking about size or colour | Do you have this in medium? Is this available in red? |
| Trying or testing | Can I try this on? Where is the fitting room? |
| Paying | Can I pay by card? Do you accept cash? |
1. Asking for Help
Customer: Excuse me, can you help me, please?
Shop Assistant: Sure! What are you looking for?
Customer: I’m looking for a pair of jeans.
Shop Assistant: We have some new ones over there. What size do you wear?
Customer: Size 32, please.
2. Asking About Price
Customer: Hello, how much is this jacket?
Shop Assistant: It’s £45.
Customer: Oh, is it on sale?
Shop Assistant: Yes, it’s 20% off today.
Customer: Great! I’ll take it.
3. Asking About Size or Colour
Customer: Do you have this T-shirt in medium?
Shop Assistant: Let me check. Yes, we do.
Customer: Perfect! Do you have it in blue as well?
Shop Assistant: Sorry, only in black and white.
Customer: Okay, I’ll take the black one then.
4. Trying or Testing
Customer: Can I try this dress on?
Shop Assistant: Of course! The fitting room is over there.
Customer: Thank you.
(After trying)
Customer: It fits perfectly. I’ll buy it.
Shop Assistant: Great choice!
5. Paying
Customer: Can I pay by card?
Cashier: Yes, we accept all major cards.
Customer: Here you go.
Cashier: Thank you. Would you like a receipt?
Customer: Yes, please. Thanks for your help.
Cashier: You’re welcome. Have a nice day!
Phrases for Shopping
English Phrases for Shopping with Answers
| Shopping Phrase (Question) | Possible Answer/Response |
|---|---|
| Can you help me, please? | Sure! What are you looking for? |
| How much does it cost? | It’s £25. |
| Is this on sale? | Yes, it’s 20% off today. |
| Do you have this in medium? | Yes, we do. Would you like to try it? |
| Can I try this on? | Of course, the fitting room is over there. |
| Do you have this in another colour? | Yes, we have it in blue and red. |
| Where is the fitting room? | It’s at the back of the shop. |
| Can I pay by card? | Yes, we accept all major cards. |
| Do you accept cash? | Yes, cash is fine. |
| Can I have a receipt, please? | Sure, here you go. |
| I’m just looking, thank you. | No problem, take your time. |
| Do you have anything cheaper? | Yes, there’s a similar one on sale. |
| Can I return this item? | Yes, within 7 days with a receipt. |
| Is there a discount on this? | Not today, but it will be on sale next week. |
| Can you show me something similar? | Of course, follow me, please. |
| Do you sell gift cards? | Yes, we do. Would you like one? |
| Can you gift wrap it, please? | Sure, it’ll take just a minute. |
| What time do you close? | We close at 9 p.m. |
| Do you have a changing room? | Yes, it’s next to the mirror section. |
| Can I exchange this item? | Yes, with the receipt within 14 days. |
Common English Phrases for Bargaining
When you buy from local markets or small shops, you can use these bargaining expressions to talk about the price politely.
| Situation | Useful Phrases |
|---|---|
| Asking for discount | Can you give me a better price? Is there any discount on this item? |
| Offering your price | Can you take £10 for it? I’ll take it if you give me a good price. |
| Deciding to buy | Okay, I’ll take it. That’s a fair deal. |
| Not interested | It’s too expensive for me. I’ll think about it. |
1. Asking for Discount
Customer: How much is this handbag?
Seller: It’s £40.
Customer: That’s a bit high. Can you give me a discount?
Seller: Okay, I can give it to you for £35.
Customer: Deal! I’ll take it.
2. Offering Your Price
Customer: I like this watch. How much is it?
Seller: £60, madam.
Customer: Hmm, can you take £50 for it?
Seller: £55 is the best I can do.
Customer: Alright, £55 it is.
3. Deciding to Buy
Customer: What’s the final price for these shoes?
Seller: Normally £70, but for you, £60.
Customer: That sounds fair. I’ll buy them.
Seller: Great! Would you like a bag for them?
Customer: Yes, please.
4. Not Interested
Customer: How much is this scarf?
Seller: £25.
Customer: That’s too expensive for me. Can you make it £15?
Seller: Sorry, I can only go down to £20.
Customer: I’ll think about it. Thank you.
Seller: No problem, have a nice day!
English Phrases for Bargaining with Answers
| Bargaining Phrase (Question) | Possible Answer/Response |
|---|---|
| Can you give me a discount? | I can lower it a little for you. |
| Is that your best price? | I can give you £5 off. |
| Can you make it cheaper? | Okay, how about £20 instead of £25? |
| That’s too expensive for me. | What price would you like to pay? |
| Can you knock down the price? | Sure, I can reduce it slightly. |
| Can you give me a better deal? | If you buy two, I’ll give you a discount. |
| Would you take £10 for it? | Sorry, the lowest I can go is £12. |
| I’ll buy it if you give me a discount. | Alright, I’ll take 10% off for you. |
| Can you include something extra? | Yes, I’ll add a free cover for you. |
| That’s more than I expected. | Let me see if I can give you a special price. |
| Is there any special offer today? | Yes, buy one and get one half-price. |
| Can you do a better price for cash? | Okay, if you pay cash, I’ll reduce it by £5. |
| I saw it cheaper somewhere else. | I can match that price for you. |
| I’m on a tight budget. | I understand, I’ll give you a small discount. |
| I’ll think about it. | No problem, take your time. |
| Can you sweeten the deal? | Sure, I’ll add free delivery. |
| That’s not a fair price. | Okay, let’s find a price that works for both of us. |
| Can you lower the price if I buy two? | Yes, I can give you both for £30. |
| I’ll take it if you round down the price. | Done! You can have it for £18. |
| That’s still too much. | Sorry, that’s the final price I can offer. |
Phrases for Bargaining
Shopping Idioms in English
1. Shop till you drop
Meaning: To shop for a long time until you are tired.
Example: My sister can shop till she drops when there’s a big sale in town.
2. A rip-off
Meaning: Something that is too expensive for its value.
Example: £20 for a small sandwich? That’s a rip-off!
3. To cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Something very expensive.
Example: That designer bag cost an arm and a leg, but she bought it anyway.
4. On a shoestring budget
Meaning: Doing or buying something with very little money.
Example: They decorated their house on a shoestring budget and it still looks lovely.
5. To be a good bargain
Meaning: Something worth the price; a good deal.
Example: These trainers were a good bargain — half price at the sale!
6. Pay through the nose
Meaning: To pay too much for something.
Example: We had to pay through the nose for tickets to that concert.
7. To splash out
Meaning: To spend a lot of money on something special.
Example: She splashed out on a new phone after getting her first salary.
8. To window shop
Meaning: To look at things in shop windows without buying them.
Example: We didn’t buy anything, we just went window shopping on Sunday.
9. To shop around
Meaning: To compare prices before buying something.
Example: It’s smart to shop around before buying a new laptop.
10. To pick up a bargain
Meaning: To buy something cheaply or at a good price.
Example: I picked up a bargain at the market this morning — a jacket for only £10!
Shopping Idioms
Bargaining Idioms in English
1. Drive a hard bargain
Meaning: To be a strong negotiator and not give in easily during a deal.
Example: The shopkeeper drives a hard bargain, but I finally got the price I wanted.
2. A good deal
Meaning: A purchase or agreement that is fair or cheaper than usual.
Example: This phone was a good deal — it came with free earphones!
3. A steal
Meaning: Something bought at a very low price; a great bargain.
Example: £25 for a leather jacket? That’s a steal!
4. Cut a deal
Meaning: To make an agreement or reach a fair price after discussion.
Example: After ten minutes of talking, we finally cut a deal on the car price.
5. Knock down the price
Meaning: To lower the cost of something during a negotiation.
Example: I asked the seller to knock down the price because the item had a small scratch.
6. A fair price
Meaning: A reasonable or acceptable price for something.
Example: I think £50 is a fair price for this handmade bag.
7. Worth every penny
Meaning: Something that is expensive but has good quality or value.
Example: This jacket was costly, but it’s worth every penny.
8. Bottom line
Meaning: The lowest price or final decision someone is willing to accept.
Example: My bottom line is £100 — I can’t go lower than that.
9. Sweeten the deal
Meaning: To add something extra to make an offer more appealing.
Example: The seller sweetened the deal by adding a free cover with the phone.
10. Get your money’s worth
Meaning: To receive good value for the money spent.
Example: Always check the quality to get your money’s worth when shopping.
Bargaining Idioms
FAQs about Shopping and Bargaining
What are common English phrases used for shopping?
Some common English phrases for shopping are “How much does it cost?”, “Can I try this on?”, and “Do you have this in another colour?” These phrases help you ask questions politely while buying things.
How can I ask for a discount politely in English?
You can say, “Can you give me a better price?”, “Is there any discount on this item?”, or “Can you lower the price a little?” Using polite words makes bargaining easier and more friendly.
What phrases are useful when paying in shops?
Useful phrases include “Can I pay by card?”, “Do you accept cash?”, and “Can I have a receipt, please?” These are helpful during checkout or at the cashier.
How can I practise shopping and bargaining phrases in English?
You can practise by reading dialogues, watching shopping videos, or doing short role plays with friends. Try using real phrases like “That’s too expensive for me” or “I’ll take it” to build confidence.
Why is learning shopping and bargaining phrases important?
Learning these phrases helps you communicate clearly, understand prices, and negotiate politely while shopping in English-speaking countries or online stores. It builds your daily conversation skills.
Read More
