clearance sale / sell-off
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clearance sale
The sale of goods at heavily reduced prices in order to clear out inventory quickly, often at the end of a season or before a business closes.
Wegen Geschäftsaufgabe findet ab Montag der totale Ausverkauf statt.
Because the business is closing, a total clearance sale starts on Monday.
'Ausverkauf' (clearance sale / sell-off) is a noun derived directly from the separable verb 'ausverkaufen' (to sell out). It describes the process or result of everything being sold.
Das Geschäft schließt, deshalb verkaufen sie alles aus.
The store is closing, so they are selling everything off.
In the context of shopping, fixed expressions such as 'totaler Ausverkauf' (total clearance sale), 'Saison-Ausverkauf' (seasonal clearance sale), or 'Räumungsverkauf' (clearance sale) are common. You also say that goods are 'im Ausverkauf' (on clearance).
Ich habe diese Jacke günstig im Ausverkauf bekommen.
I got this jacket cheaply in the clearance sale.
The figurative meaning is always negative and critical. You can recognize it from the fact that it is not about goods, but about intangible things like 'Werte' (values), 'Kultur' (culture), 'Heimat' (homeland), or 'Interessen' (interests).
Die Kritiker nannten den Verkauf der historischen Gebäude einen „Ausverkauf der Kultur“.
The critics called the sale of the historic buildings a 'sell-off of culture.'
action / sale
'die Aktion' and 'der Ausverkauf' can both mean that goods are being sold at lower prices. However, an 'Aktion' is more general: a store offers certain products at a lower price for a short time. An 'Ausverkauf' is more specific and often stronger: many goods are reduced because inventory is supposed to be cleared out, for example at the end of a season or before a store closes. They can be confused because both occur in stores with reduced prices. If only individual products are cheaper, 'Aktion' usually fits. If as much as possible is supposed to go quickly, 'Ausverkauf' fits better.
Beim Ausverkauf waren viele Regale schon am Nachmittag leer.
During the clearance sale, many shelves were already empty by the afternoon.
Für Kaffee läuft im Laden gerade eine Aktion.
There is currently a promotion on coffee in the store.