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shop around

British  

verb

  1. to visit a number of shops or stores to compare goods and prices

  2. to consider a number of possibilities before making a choice

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

shop around Idioms  
  1. Look for the best bargain, opportunity, or the like, as in This job offers only minimum wage so she decided to shop around for one with better pay . This expression alludes to looking in different stores in search of bargains or a particular item. [c. 1920]

  2. Look for a buyer for, offer for sale to various parties, as in The company is now being actively shopped around . [Second half of 1900s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As ever, the advice for consumers is to shop around.

From BBC

They had previously arranged their trips abroad through a travel agent, but having planned to return to the country for eight years, Dinesh decided to instead shop around online for a cheaper deal.

From BBC

However, prices still remain relatively high by historical standards, debts have ballooned, and billpayers are being urged to shop around for further savings.

From BBC

Regulators and campaigners have encouraged people to shop around for a cheaper, fixed deal, depending on their circumstances.

From BBC

You should also shop around and make sure that the company you choose is offering the most competitive price.

From MarketWatch