ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hit the shops

idiom
Meaning

To become available for purchase at retail locations.


Examples
SIMPLE

The new shoes hit the shops tomorrow.

CONTEXTUAL

Fans waited in line for hours before the latest video game hit the shops.

COMPLEX

Once the highly anticipated collection finally hits the shops, retailers expect the entire inventory to sell out within a few hours.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    big shop

    A large, regular purchase of groceries; as opposed to ad hoc or impulse purchases.

  2. 02

    bull in a china shop

    A person who is clumsy, aggressive, without care, concern or self-control.

  3. 03

    don't let the door hit you on the way out

    Used as a command to leave in haste, or to indicate that one is glad, or at least unmoved, to see the addressed person leaving.

  4. 04

    fall out of the ugly tree and hit every branch

    To become extremely unattractive.

  5. 05

    hit a lick

    To earn a large sum of money in a short amount of time, usually illegally.

  6. 06

    hit a snag

    To encounter an unexpected problem or delay.

  7. 07

    hit a wall

    To come up against an insurmountable problem.

  8. 08

    hit above one's weight

    Alternative form of punch above one's weight.

Last updated April 17, 2026