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shop around

British  

verb

  1. to visit a number of shops or stores to compare goods and prices

  2. to consider a number of possibilities before making a choice

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

shop around Idioms  
  1. Look for the best bargain, opportunity, or the like, as in This job offers only minimum wage so she decided to shop around for one with better pay . This expression alludes to looking in different stores in search of bargains or a particular item. [c. 1920]

  2. Look for a buyer for, offer for sale to various parties, as in The company is now being actively shopped around . [Second half of 1900s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The government will now introduce the power to set minimum standards in the English Devolution Bill, with the aim of reducing the incentive to "shop around" for licences, the committee heard.

From BBC

Working for a bank allowed her to get a good rate without having to shop around with different lenders.

From MarketWatch

"I actually shop around for everything," she added.

From BBC

Just mark your calendar for that renewal date and be prepared to either negotiate or shop around when your introductory period ends.

From Salon

The company is “able to maximize its fuel profit dollars, as customers who are drawn to Casey’s for food are less likely to shop around for marginal savings on fuel, reducing price sensitivity at the pump,” according to Stephens analyst Pooran Sharma.

From Barron's