Phrase guide

sell like hot cakes

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To be sold quickly in large numbers or amounts.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • During a power outage, candles sell like hot cakes.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

After the proverbial popularity of pancakes in 19th-century America.

Across languages

Translations

34 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 暢銷 /畅销 (chàngxiāo) — sell quickly
  • Chinese Mandarin: 熱銷 /热销 (rèxiāo) — sell quickly
  • Chinese Mandarin: 大賣 /大卖 (dàmài) — sell quickly
  • Czech: jít na dračku — sell quickly
  • Dutch: verkopen als zoete broodjes — sell quickly
  • Finnish: mennä kuin kuumille kiville — sell quickly
  • Finnish: mennä kaupaksi — sell quickly
  • Finnish: tehdä kauppansa — sell quickly
  • Finnish: käydä kaupaksi — sell quickly
  • French: se vendre comme des petits pains — sell quickly
  • German: weggehen wie warme Semmeln — sell quickly
  • Hungarian: viszik, mint a cukrot — sell quickly
  • Hungarian: veszik, mint a cukrot — sell quickly
  • Hungarian: elkapkodják — sell quickly
  • Icelandic: fljúga út — sell quickly
  • Icelandic: seljast eins og heitar lummur — sell quickly
  • Icelandic: renna út — sell quickly
  • Italian: andare a ruba — sell quickly
  • Japanese: 飛ぶように売れる (tobu yō ni ureru) — sell quickly
  • Korean: 불티나게 팔리다 (bulti-nage pallida) — sell quickly
  • Norwegian: selge som varmt hvetebrød — sell quickly
  • Norwegian: selge som hakka møkk — sell quickly
  • Polish: sprzedawać się jak świeże bułeczki — sell quickly
  • Polish: sprzedać się jak świeże bułeczki — sell quickly
  • Portuguese: vender que nem pãezinhos quentes — sell quickly
  • Romanian: a se vinde ca pâinea caldă — sell quickly
  • Spanish: vender como churros — sell quickly
  • Spanish: vender como rosquillas — sell quickly
  • Swedish: sälja som smör — sell quickly
  • Swedish: sälja som smör i solsken — sell quickly
  • Thai: เทน้ําเทท่า (tee-náam-tee-tâa) — sell quickly
  • Thai: ขายดิบขายดี (kǎai-dìp-kǎai-dii) — sell quickly
  • Turkish: peynir ekmek gibi satılmak — sell quickly
  • Vietnamese: bán chạy như tôm tươi — sell quickly