I’m auctioning off out/away (? Non native speaker 😅) my old-ish gaming consoles and this person is asking about a unit’s serial number. Why? I mean, I put up more than ten images of the console from various angles and such… What’s the significance?

  • otp@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    Since your main question was answered, but not your other question, it’s generally “auctioning away”

    EDIT: The best way to get a right answer on the internet is not to post a question, but to post the wrong answer!

    This wasn’t intentional, lol

    • litchralee@sh.itjust.works
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      1 day ago

      American English speaker here. While I would understand what “to auction away” means, I’m not aware of anyone here in California that would say it like that. Usually, I would say “to auction off”, which follows in a long series of other “X off” verbs, like “to bake off” or “to shake off”, all of which usually involve some sort of adversary or competition.

      Note that we do use the verb “to give away” but that would mean a gift without compensation, which is definitely not an auction.

    • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe
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      1 day ago

      I would find that an odd phrasing.

      I’ve always heard “auctioning off” or “putting up for auction” or just auctioning.

      • otp@sh.itjust.works
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        1 day ago

        Oh wow!

        Yeah, putting up for auction is more general and common. I guess I don’t “auction off” enough things to know what most people say.

        I’ve heard “auction away” enough – maybe that’s what the nom-professionals say? Lol

        • ripcord@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          I think it definitely makes sense and I’m not sure I’d notice if I read it. I might assume it is a localized English thing (“how are you going” in Australis, or “standing on line” in New York)