Asking Strangers In York What They’re Doing Today

What does “sell it to me” mean in English?

When someone says “sell it to me,” they are not talking about money. They are asking you to convince them. It means: give me your best reason, make me want this. In York, a man stops a hairdresser handing out flyers and says, “Go on, sell it to me.” She lists her reasons — £20, student discount, high training standards. It works. The phrase is common in British English and fits any moment where you want someone to convince you.

You can use it when someone suggests a plan, a product, or an idea and you want to hear why it is good. For example: “You think I should try that restaurant?” — “Yeah, come on, sell it to me.” It sounds friendly, not rude. In the clip, the interviewer uses it twice with the same young hairdresser. She is trying to get more customers and handing out flyers on the street. He asks her to convince him — and she does. The phrase is also common in job interviews and business meetings, when someone asks: “Tell me why I should pick you.” It is casual, spoken English — friendly and a little playful, not something you would write in a formal email.