What Does “Shop sb around sth” Mean?
“Shop sb around sth” means to take someone or something to different places to find the best option, price, or deal.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “shop sb around sth” is commonly used when someone is trying to find the best offer or opportunity for a person or an item by visiting multiple places or contacting different people. This expression often appears in business or personal situations where comparison and negotiation are important. Understanding the Shop sb around sth meaning helps learners use it naturally in conversations and writing. It emphasizes the act of exploring options before making a final decision.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: shop somebody around something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To take someone or something to different places to find the best option or price
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Shop sb around sth” is a transitive phrasal verb. It is usually separable, meaning the object (sb) can come between “shop” and “around,” or after “around.”
- shop sb around sth
- shop around sth for sb
Examples of correct patterns:
- She shopped him around the city to find the best job.
- They shopped the car around the market for her.
How to Use Shop sb around sth?
Use “shop sb around sth” when talking about taking a person or item to various places to explore options or prices. It often involves comparison or negotiation. The phrase is most common in informal and business contexts.
Example contexts include:
- Looking for the best price for a product
- Finding the best deal for a service
- Helping someone find job offers or opportunities
Examples
Before buying a car, John shopped it around several dealerships to get the best price.
- The agent shopped her around different companies to find a new job.
- We shopped the house around to several real estate agents to see who offered the best terms.
- She shopped her artwork around galleries to find a good buyer.
- They shopped the contract around multiple lawyers for advice.
These examples show how to use Shop sb around sth in a sentence.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse “shop sb around sth” with “shop around for sth.” Here is how to avoid mistakes:
- Incorrect: She shopped around a job for him.
- Correct: She shopped him around for a job.
- Incorrect: They shopped the car around for sale.
- Correct: They shopped the car around to sell it.
Remember, when using “shop sb around,” the person or item being moved comes directly after “shop.”
Differences / Synonyms
“Shop sb around sth” is similar to “shop around for sth,” but they differ slightly:
- Shop sb around sth: You take a person or item to different places.
- Shop around for sth: You look for the best option or price yourself.
Synonyms include:
- Take sb to various places
- Compare offers for sb or sth
- Show sb different options
Common Collocations
When using “shop sb around sth,” certain objects are often paired with the verb. Here are common collocations:
- Job: Helping someone find work
- Car: Comparing prices at dealerships
- House: Showing a property to different agents
- Contract: Getting legal advice from various lawyers
- Artwork: Presenting art to galleries or buyers
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “shop sb around sth”:
Anna: I want to find the best job for my brother.
Mark: You should shop him around different companies.
Anna: That’s a good idea. I’ll start contacting recruiters tomorrow.
Practice
Complete the sentence with the correct phrase:
She decided to _______ her artwork _______ several galleries to find a buyer.
- a) shop around for
- b) shop her around
- c) shop her around to
- d) shop around her
Answer: c) shop her around to
FAQ
- What does “shop sb around sth” mean? It means taking someone or something to several places to find the best option or price.
- Is “shop sb around sth” separable? Yes, you can separate the object from the verb.
- Can I use “shop sb around” for jobs? Yes, it’s common to use it when helping someone find job offers.
- How is it different from “shop around for sth”? “Shop sb around” involves moving a person or item, while “shop around for” means looking for options yourself.
- Is “shop sb around sth” formal? It’s more informal but used in business and daily conversations.
