Fire sale
Appearance
A fire sale is the sale of goods at extremely discounted prices, typically when the seller faces bankruptcy or other impending distress. The term may originally have been based on the sale of goods at a heavy discount due to fire damage.
A fire sale may or may not be a closeout, the final sale of goods to zero inventory.
The sports term and attack method are derived from this term.
History
According to Dictionary.com, the term originated in 1890-95 in New Zealand. The fire at Whitcombe and Tombs in Dunedin resulted in a "Fire Sale".