bid in: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Commercial
Quick answer
What does “bid in” mean?
To make a bid for an item one is selling (at an auction) to prevent it from being sold too cheaply.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make a bid for an item one is selling (at an auction) to prevent it from being sold too cheaply.
In auction terminology, for the owner or seller to place a bid on their own property, often through an agent, to set a minimum price or buy it back if bids are too low. This can also refer to a company buying its own shares during a takeover bid.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both varieties but is more common in UK auction house terminology. In US corporate contexts, the act is often described as a 'self-tender'.
Connotations
In both, it can imply a defensive or protective strategy. In the UK, it may carry a slight historical association with traditional auction rooms.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language, but moderately common within specialist auction and finance circles in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “bid in” in a Sentence
[Owner/Company] + bid in + [item/shares] + (at [auction/price])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bid in” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The vendor had to bid in the antique vase when it failed to reach its reserve.
American English
- The company's bylaws allowed it to bid in up to 10% of its outstanding stock.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board voted to bid in a portion of the company's shares during the hostile takeover attempt.
Academic
The practice of 'bidding in' at art auctions has been studied as a mechanism for price stabilization.
Everyday
Rarely used in everyday conversation outside of specific contexts like television antique shows.
Technical
A seller may bid in a lot if the hammer price fails to meet the confidential reserve.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bid in”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bid in”
- Using 'bid on' instead of 'bid in' ("He bid on his own painting" is ambiguous; "He bid in his own painting" is specific).
- Treating it as a general synonym for 'bid'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A reserve price is a minimum set before the auction. 'Bidding in' is the active step of placing a bid during the auction if that reserve isn't met.
Laws vary. In many places, it is legal if disclosed (e.g., through a 'vendor bid' announced by the auctioneer). Secretly bidding to inflate prices ('shill bidding') is illegal.
Yes, primarily in corporate finance, where a company 'bids in' for its own shares during a tender offer or takeover battle.
In auction contexts, they are often synonyms. 'Buy in' can be slightly more general, while 'bid in' emphasises the act of participating in the bidding process.
To make a bid for an item one is selling (at an auction) to prevent it from being sold too cheaply.
Bid in is usually formal, commercial in register.
Bid in: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪd ˈɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪd ˈɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To bid something in (is to keep it in the family).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an owner BIDding to keep an item IN their possession.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUCTIONS ARE BATTLES (a defensive manoeuvre).
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is someone most likely to 'bid in'?