hard sell

¹

noun

1. a method of advertising or selling that is direct, forceful, and insistent; high-pressure salesmanship ( soft sell ).

hard-sell

²

[ hahrd-sel ]

verb (used with or without object)

, hard-sold, hard-sell·ing.

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

1. characterized by or promoted through a hard sell:

   hard-sell tactics.

hard sell

noun

1. an aggressive insistent technique of selling or advertising Compare soft sell

Word History and Origins

Origin of hard sell¹

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55

Origin of hard sell²

An Americanism dating back to 1955–60

Example Sentences

Even if election results show Republicans are likely to maintain control of the House — they have already won the Senate — the idea is a hard sell.

From Los Angeles Times

Asking people to pay more for their loo to flush when the service is seen to have failed will be a hard sell.

From BBC

But the idea has been a hard sell for her husband, for whom immigration no longer holds the same allure it did for earlier generations.

From Los Angeles Times

It has been a week where Zelensky went and gave his "victory plan" a hard sell.

From BBC

More money for the Secret Service could be a hard sell given those political realities.

From BBC