in the market for a — looking for or interested in buying something
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: looking for or interested in buying something
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪn ðə ˈmɑrkɪt fər/
Example Sentences
- After his old phone exploded, he's definitely in the market for a new one.
- She's been in the market for a boyfriend ever since she watched too many romantic movies.
- We're in the market for a reliable babysitter who won't let our kids order pizza at 2 AM.
in the market for a
ADVERB[/ɪn ðə ˈmɑrkɪt fər/]
looking for or interested in buying something
She's in the market for a new bicycle and tests every single one.
In the market for a car, we target our star!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The phrase 'in the market for' derives from the noun 'market,' which originally denoted a physical place of commerce where goods were bought and sold. From the 19th century onward, the expression evolved to mean 'having a willingness or intention to purchase,' metaphorically positioning the speaker as having entered a marketplace with the intent to acquire something.
Breakdown
in (preposition: within a state or condition) + the market (noun: place of commerce, extended to mean the condition of being a buyer) + for (preposition: indicating purpose or intention). The phrase combines spatial language with purposive meaning to express buying intent.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“After his old phone exploded, he's definitely in the market for a new one.”
“She's been in the market for a boyfriend ever since she watched too many romantic movies.”
“We're in the market for a reliable babysitter who won't let our kids order pizza at 2 AM.”
“Are you in the market for a used laptop?”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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