Meaning: To sell very quickly and in large quantities
Hindi: तेजी से बिकना
Synonyms: sell rapidly, fly off the shelves
Asked in: SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 · SSC MTS 2023 · SSC MTS 2020
sell like hot cakes in SSC previous-year questions
- SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom.
The realtors of the new venture sold plots like hot cakes.
(SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 (01-July Shift 1))Answer & explanation
Answer: D) Sold quickly and in large numbers
The idiom "sold like hot cakes" refers to something that sells very quickly and in large quantities, often because it is highly desired or in high demand.
Here’s the breakdown:
• Hot cakes: This refers to pancakes that are freshly cooked and hot. Hot cakes are often considered a popular food item that people want to eat immediately while they are still hot and fresh.
• Sold like hot cakes: When something is selling "like hot cakes," it means that it is being bought quickly, almost as if people are rushing to get it before it’s gone, just as people might eagerly grab hot cakes before they cool down.
For example, if a new product is released and it quickly sells out because many people want it - SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
Sell like hot cakes
(SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 (08-July Shift 2))Answer & explanation
Answer: B) Selling out quickly
Correct Answer: Selling out quickly
Explanation:
The idiom "Sell like hot cakes" means:
• Something that is in great demand and gets sold very quickly, often in large numbers.
Meaning of each option:
• Not bothering about money – ❌ Not related.
• Selling out quickly – ✅ Correct; matches the meaning of the idiom.
• Extremely hot and humid – ❌ Literal misunderstanding.
• Become very famous – ❌ Not the exact meaning.
✅ So, "Sell like hot cakes" means "Selling out quickly." - SSC MTS 2023 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
Sell like hot cakesAnswer & explanation
Answer: D) Quick sell out
Answer: 4
Solution: The idiom “Sell like hot cakes” means to be sold quickly and in large quantities (तेज़ी से बिकना). It is used for products that are in high demand and get sold out very fast.
Option 1 – Selling cakes: literal meaning, not idiomatic.
Option 2 – Being ignored: opposite in meaning; if something sells like hot cakes, it is definitely not being ignored.
Option 3 – Eating hot cake: irrelevant and literal; doesn’t match the idiom's actual meaning.
Examples
- “The new smartphones sold like hot cakes within a week.”
sell like hot cakes – questions
What is the meaning of sell like hot cakes in Hindi?
sell like hot cakes means “तेजी से बिकना” in Hindi. In English: To sell very quickly and in large quantities
What are the synonyms of sell like hot cakes?
Synonyms of sell like hot cakes: sell rapidly, fly off the shelves.
Has sell like hot cakes been asked in SSC exams?
Yes – sell like hot cakes has been asked 4 times in SSC exams: SSC CHSL 2024 T-1, SSC MTS 2023, SSC MTS 2020.