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Meaning & use

sales pitch

noun·Everydaybusiness

Last updated

UK/ˈseɪlz ˌpɪtʃ/
US/ˈseɪlz ˌpɪtʃ/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablebusiness

    A prepared talk or presentation meant to persuade someone to buy a product or service.

    Grammar: Takes a verb like give, make or deliver: she delivered a strong sales pitch.

    Patterns

    • a sales pitch for something
    • give someone a sales pitch
    • a sales pitch to someone

    The rep gave us a ten-minute sales pitch for the new software.

    His sales pitch was so smooth that I almost signed on the spot.

    I listened to the sales pitch, but I wanted time to compare prices.

  2. nouncountableinformalfigurative

    Any attempt, in everyday life, to persuade someone to accept an idea or plan, especially one that sounds rehearsed or too eager.

    Grammar: Often used figuratively and a little critically: it sounded like a sales pitch.

    Patterns

    • a sales pitch for something

    The principal's speech about the new schedule sounded like a sales pitch.

    My brother gave me a full sales pitch for why we should adopt a dog.

    I don't need a sales pitch; just tell me what the problem is.

Word forms

pluralsales pitches

Common combinations

deliver a sales pitch
She delivered a sales pitch to the regional managers.
polished sales pitch
His polished sales pitch impressed the whole room.
a hard-sell sales pitch
I disliked the hard-sell sales pitch at the car dealership.
rehearse a sales pitch
He rehearsed his sales pitch in the mirror every morning.
the sales pitch for something
The sales pitch for the gym membership sounded too good to be true.

Synonyms and how they differ

spiel
A spiel is an informal, often rapid and over-practiced speech, while a sales pitch is more neutral and professional.
presentation
A presentation can inform without trying to sell, but a sales pitch always aims at a purchase.
patter
Patter is the continuous, friendly-sounding talk of a salesperson, whereas a sales pitch is a more structured argument.
proposal
A proposal is usually written and detailed, while a sales pitch is typically spoken and brief.

Word family

pitch verb
to present an idea or product in order to win support
pitcher noun
someone who pitches, though more often a baseball player or a jug
salesperson noun
a person who sells products
sales noun
the activity or amount of selling

Commonly confused: sales pitch or sales talk?

sales pitch vs sales talk

Sales talk is similar but more general and often a little negative, while sales pitch is typically one prepared presentation.

Practice

After a two-minute ____, the shop assistant had convinced me to buy the more expensive vacuum cleaner.

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