Sell someone out

Описание: The idiom "sell someone out" is often used to describe the act of betraying or abandoning someone, usually for personal gain or to avoid trouble. It implies that someone has revealed confidential or damaging information about another person, often breaking trust or loyalty.
Here are a few examples to help illustrate the meaning of this idiom:
1. Example: John and David were best friends for years, but when the police started investigating their illegal activities, John decided to sell David out to avoid going to jail.
Explanation: In this example, John chose to betray his friend David by providing information to the police, putting his own interests above their friendship.
2. Example: Sarah trusted her colleague, Emily, with a secret project she was working on. However, Emily sold her out by leaking the details to their competitors.
Explanation: Emily's actions of revealing confidential information about Sarah's project to their competitors can be considered as selling Sarah out, as she prioritized her own benefit over their professional relationship.
3. Example: The whistleblower decided to sell out the corrupt company to the media, exposing their illegal activities and unethical practices.
Explanation: In this case, the whistleblower chose to reveal damaging information about the company, disregarding their loyalty to the company and exposing their wrongdoing to the public.
4. Example: The politician promised to fight for the rights of the people who elected him, but he eventually sold them out by making deals with powerful corporations.
Explanation: The politician's actions of prioritizing the interests of powerful corporations over the rights of the people who elected him can be seen as selling them out, as he betrayed their trust and abandoned his initial promises.
To summarize, the idiom "sell someone out" refers to the act of betraying or abandoning someone, often by revealing confidential or damaging information about them. It implies a breach of trust or loyalty for personal gain or to avoid trouble.