cash-and-carry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Business/Commercial; Informal
Quick answer
What does “cash-and-carry” mean?
A wholesale store where customers pay in cash and transport goods themselves.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A wholesale store where customers pay in cash and transport goods themselves.
A business model or commercial system where payment is immediate and the buyer assumes responsibility for logistics, often used metaphorically for any no-frills, immediate-transaction scenario.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally common and understood in both varieties. In the US, it may face more competition from terms like 'wholesale club' or 'warehouse store', but the concept is identical.
Connotations
Connotes practicality, bulk buying, lack of credit, and a business-to-business or serious-shopper focus. No significant difference in connotation between UK and US usage.
Frequency
Slightly higher relative frequency in UK English, where it remains a standard term for a specific type of wholesale retailer. In the US, brand names (Costco, Sam's Club) often overshadow the generic term.
Grammar
How to Use “cash-and-carry” in a Sentence
Shop at [the/ a] cash-and-carryBuy [sth] from [the/ a] cash-and-carry[The/ A] cash-and-carry sells [sth]The [model/ system/ principle] is cash-and-carryVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cash-and-carry” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- We get all our soft drinks from the cash-and-carry on the industrial estate.
- Booker is one of the largest cash-and-carries in the UK.
American English
- He runs a cash-and-carry that supplies to local restaurants.
- The new cash-and-carry requires a business license to shop there.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the B2B retail model requiring immediate payment and customer transport, impacting cash flow and logistics.
Academic
Used in economics or business studies to discuss retail formats, supply chains, and payment systems.
Everyday
Used by small business owners, caterers, or individuals buying in bulk.
Technical
May appear in logistics, retail management, or commercial law contexts specifying terms of sale.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cash-and-carry”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cash-and-carry”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cash-and-carry”
- Using 'cash & carry' as a verb (e.g., 'I will cash and carry these goods').
- Omitting the hyphens, which are standard in the compound modifier.
- Confusing it with a regular supermarket.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Often not; many require a business registration or trade membership, though policies vary.
Yes, when used as a compound modifier before a noun (cash-and-carry warehouse) or as a noun itself referring to the store type. It may sometimes appear without hyphens in very informal contexts.
A cash-and-carry is a type of wholesaler. The term specifically emphasizes the immediate payment (cash) and customer transport (carry), distinguishing it from wholesalers who offer credit and/or delivery.
No, it is not standard to use it as a verb. It functions as a noun or an adjective.
A wholesale store where customers pay in cash and transport goods themselves.
Cash-and-carry is usually business/commercial; informal in register.
Cash-and-carry: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkæʃ ən ˈkæri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæʃ ən ˈkæri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a cash-and-carry operation.”
- “adopt a cash-and-carry approach”
- “strictly cash-and-carry”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine CARRYing CASH to a warehouse to CARRY your goods away.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMERCE IS A JOURNEY (where you provide both the fuel 'cash' and the vehicle 'carry').
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a cash-and-carry business?