What is "stores mark down their prices"?

[Semak]

English Idioms and Expressions, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #26 "Retail Sales Expressions", question 2

The best time to go shopping in the USA is the day after Thanksgiving, because all stores mark down their prices.

(a) reduce
(b) boost
(c) raise
(d) hike

English Idioms and Expressions, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #26 "Retail Sales Expressions", answer 2

The best time to go shopping in the USA is the day after Thanksgiving, because all stores reduce their prices.

Correct answer: (a) reduce
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I just want to get an explanation of question two.

Thank you
Semak

[Mister Micawber]

.
Mark down the prices = reduce the prices. Stores in America often do this before a holiday (this test question refers to Christmas shopping); in Japan, they mark up (= raise) the prices at that time.

Have I answered any of your question?
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Haihao]

Hi,

IMO, stores in the USA and in Japan do things much of a muchness: mark up the prices before a holiday and mark down them after that.

haihao

[Yankee]

Hi Haihao

[Tamara]

Hi

[Yankee]

[Alan]

Hi Tamara,

Much of a muchness is already negative in spirit in the sense of not much to choose between two or more things/ not a lot of difference when you make comparisons. As a result the negative won't work here.

A
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story A day in the life of a stately home owner

[Tamara]

Hmm, how interesting it is...

Thanks, Alan!
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