fire-sale
Meaning
a sale of goods at a very low price, typically because a shop is closing down or the goods have been damaged.
a situation in which assets are sold very quickly and cheaply, often under pressure or in a crisis.
Structure
Usage
the store had a fire-sale to clear out the water-damaged inventory.
the economic crash led to a fire-sale of properties across the city.
investors worried the company's bankruptcy would result in a fire-sale of its valuable patents.
Etymology
the compound "fire-sale" is a modern english formation, originating in the commercial language of the 19th century. it literally refers to a sale of merchandise that has been damaged by fire, necessitating quick disposal at greatly reduced prices. over time, the term's logic evolved through metaphorical extension, applying to any situation where assets must be sold rapidly and at a steep discount, often due to financial distress or urgent liquidation, not necessarily an actual fire. this evolution demonstrates how a concrete, literal compound can develop a broader, abstract economic meaning while retaining its core implication of forced, low-value disposal.
Analysis
fire (old english; noun; a destructive burning event). sale (old english; noun; the act of selling).