pop shop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low/Very LowInformal, Slang, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “pop shop” mean?
A pawnbroker's shop (slang, chiefly historical).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A pawnbroker's shop (slang, chiefly historical).
A place where items are pledged as security for a loan, typically a pawn shop. In modern, informal business contexts, can occasionally refer to a trendy, small independent store or a pop-up shop, but this usage is rarer and dependent on context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The historical slang meaning is strongly associated with British (London) English. The term is largely unknown in American English with that meaning. The modern 'pop-up shop' sense is understood internationally.
Connotations
UK: Historical, working-class, possibly quaint or literary. US: Only understood in the context of contemporary retail.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern UK English outside historical fiction or deliberate archaism. The phrase 'pop-up shop' is common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “pop shop” in a Sentence
He took his watch to the pop shop.I had to visit the pop shop to raise some cash.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in formal business. Possibly in historical business narratives.
Academic
Only in historical or linguistic studies of slang.
Everyday
Virtually obsolete. An older speaker might use it archaically.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pop shop”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pop shop”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pop shop”
- Using it to mean a popular shop.
- Using it in a modern context without explanation.
- Confusing it with 'pop-up shop'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic slang. You will almost never hear it in modern conversation unless someone is deliberately using old-fashioned language.
Only informally and through shortening. The standalone term 'pop shop' historically means a pawnbroker's. To avoid confusion, use the full term 'pop-up shop' for a temporary retail store.
It originated as Cockney rhyming slang. 'Pop' is thought to be short for 'pop in and out', referring to the quick transaction of pawning an item.
For general English learners, it is a low-priority, recognition-only term. You may encounter it in classic literature or historical dramas, but you do not need to actively use it.
A pawnbroker's shop (slang, chiefly historical).
Pop shop is usually informal, slang, archaic in register.
Pop shop: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɒp ʃɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɑːp ʃɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'Pop' something (to pawn it)”
- “Up the spout (at the pop shop) - meaning pawned.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'POP' as the sound of the shop's bell as you quickly go IN and OUT to get cash for your goods.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SHOP IS A SOURCE OF QUICK CASH (via the action of pawning, which is a quick 'in and out' transaction).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'pop shop'?