a method of advertising or selling that is direct, forceful, and insistent; high-pressure salesmanship (opposed to soft sell).
Origin
1950-55, Americanism
hard-sell
[hahrd-sel] /ˈhɑrdˈsɛl/
verb (used with object), verb (used without object), hard-sold, hard-selling.
1.
to sell or advertise (something) in a forceful and insistent way:
to hard-sell new car models to reluctant buyers.
2.
to convince (someone) in a forceful and insistent way:
to hard-sell customers on a new product.
adjective
3.
characterized by or promoted through a hard sell:
hard-sell tactics.
Origin
1955-60, Americanism
British Dictionary definitions for hard sell
hard sell
noun
1.
an aggressive insistent technique of selling or advertising Compare soft sell
Slang definitions & phrases for hard sell
hard sell
noun phrase
An act or policy of selling aggressively, forcibly, loudly, etc: Joe is a master at hard sell(1950s+)
Idioms and Phrases with hard sell
hard sell
.
An aggressive, high-pressure sales practice or promotion, as in Used-car salesmen tend to give you a hard sell. This expression gave rise to the antonym soft sell, a low-key sales approach that relies on gentle persuasion. [ ; c. 1950 ]
.
A difficult sales prospect, one who resists sales pressure. For example, Those brokers who call us at dinnertime find me a hard sell—I usually just hang up on them. [ Late 1900s ]