fire sale

American  

noun

1. a special sale of merchandise actually or supposedly damaged by fire.

2. a sale, as of assets, at reduced prices, in order to raise money quickly.

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fire sale British  

noun

1. a sale of goods at reduced prices after a fire at a shop or factory

2. 1. any instance of offering goods or assets at greatly reduced prices to ensure a quick sale

   2. ( as modifier )

      fire-sale prices

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Other Word Forms

• fire-sale adjective

Etymology

Origin of fire sale

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95

Example Sentences

A sudden loss of faith in a stablecoins could see them cashed in all at once, prompting a "fire sale" of their reserve assets that "could affect the functioning of US Treasury markets", they wrote.

From Barron's

“The art collection is probably worth more than what the building is,” said McKechnie, who added that a fire sale isn’t a sustainable solution for the club’s financial woes.

From The Wall Street Journal

He said that, "with a start date of May 2026, we are now set for a six-month fire sale with tenants forced out at short notice".

From BBC

Not defaults, but being forced into fire sales because everyone got scared at once.

From MarketWatch

On the other, the realities of La Liga mean constant fire sales.

From BBC