Shopping, Clothing Alterations, Hardware, and E-commerce Vocabulary

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from lecture notes covering shopping terminology, clothing modifications, hardware, and retail idioms.

Binge shopping

An excessive or uncontrolled session of shopping.

Splash out

To spend money lavishly or impulsively (faire une folie).

Shopping spree

A short period spent buying many things, often done to feel better.

Window shopping

Looking at goods displayed in shop windows without intending to buy (vitrine).

Quintessentially

Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class (par excellence).

It seems likely

It appears probable (ça semble probable).

Dressing up

Putting on formal, elegant, or costume clothes (se déguiser).

Smart

Looking elegant, neat, or well-dressed.

Letting down

Altering a garment to make it longer (allonger).

Change out of

To take off a set of clothes in order to put on different ones (changer un vêtement).

Letting out

Altering a garment to make it wider or larger by adding material (ajouter de la matière / plus large).

Taking in

Altering a garment to make it smaller or narrower (rétrécir).

Suppliers

Individuals or businesses that provide goods or resources (fournisseurs).

Tile

A manufactured piece of hard-wearing material used for covering surfaces (carrelage / tuile / pavé).

Nail

A small metal spike driven into wood or other materials to hold pieces together (clou).

Screwdriver

A tool used for turning screws (tournevis).

Fixture

A piece of equipment or furniture fixed in position inside a building (installation).

Plumbing

The system of pipes, tanks, and fittings used for water distribution and drainage (plomberie).

Overview

A comprehensive general survey or summary (vue d'ensemble).

Parcels

Packages wrapped up for delivery or posting (colis).

Basket

A container used to hold items while shopping online or in a physical store (panier).

Postage

The charge or cost for sending goods by mail (frais de port).

To sign in

To log into an account or online portal (se connecter).

It's a bargain

A phrase indicating that a product is bought at a very favorable or low price (c'est une bonne affaire).

Brick-and-mortar shop

A traditional physical retail store located in a building (un vrai magasin).

Shopping around

Visiting or checking multiple shops to compare prices and quality before making a purchase (faire le tour des magasins).

I'm browsing

An expression used when casually looking through products without a definite intent to buy (je jette un coup d'œil).

Impulse / compulsive shopper

A person who buys things on sudden urge or compulsively without prior planning (un acheteur compulsif).

Shopaholic

A person addicted to shopping.

Loyal shopper

A customer who consistently returns to purchase from the same store or brand (un client fidèle).

Department store

A large retail store divided into departments selling a great variety of goods (galerie / grand magasin).

Chain store

One of a series of retail stores owned by the same company (une chaîne de magasins).

Cash discount

A price reduction offered to buyers who pay promptly in cash.

Refund policy

The terms establishing how and when customers can return goods for reimbursement.

Changing / fitting room

A dedicated room in a store where customers try on clothing (cabinet d'essayage).

One stop shop

A business or hypermarket where a customer can obtain all necessary goods or services in one location.

To break the bank

To cost more money than one can afford (se ruiner).

Bag a lemon

To purchase something defective, faulty, or worthless, such as a bad vehicle (acheter une épave).

Hit the shops

To go out shopping or arrive at retail stores (arriver dans les rayons).

It's a rip-off

Something that is grossly overpriced or a fraudulent deal (c'est de l'arnaque).

It's a steal

A product sold at an extraordinarily low or profitable price (affaire rentable).

Good value for money

A product or service that offers high quality relative to its cost (bon rapport qualité-prix).

Pay through the nose

To pay an extraordinarily high or unreasonable amount of money (hors de prix).