# Is it correct to say: "I am out of stock of meat? " **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2015, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-correct-to-say-i-am-out-of-stock-of-meat/715574 "2015-03-21T06:32:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ornery\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-correct-to-say-i-am-out-of-stock-of-meat/715574/21 "2015-03-24T22:48:37Z")
FWIW, as someone who answers the “do you have stock?” question all day long, my answer would be “We’re out of stock **on** meat.” I often says things like, “Were out of stock on the 7718s, but I have 7719s that I can sell at the same price.” ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-correct-to-say-i-am-out-of-stock-of-meat/715574/22 "2015-03-25T15:51:03Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I don’t see that. If I go to a shop to buy something, and the staff tell me the item is out of stock, I would go to another shop looking for it. “Item, X is out of stock” would imply the unstated “in this particular shop.” I wouldn’t think they are speaking for all shops everywhere. This is via email, not in person. And if you notice I was referring to a situation where there are several similar suppliers, like in a market, which is a pretty common situation. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-correct-to-say-i-am-out-of-stock-of-meat/715574/23 "2015-03-25T15:55:35Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > I think it’s somewhat ambiguous because “stock of meat” is a phrase somebody could use for the stock/soup itself. (As opposed to stock of vegetables.) While that construct exists (Ballotine of Pork, Cream of Tartar), I don’t think I’ve heard these items ever referred to as anything other than “meat stock” or “vegetable stock”. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-correct-to-say-i-am-out-of-stock-of-meat/715574/24 "2015-03-25T17:21:51Z")
“I’m out of stock _in_ meat” sounds a little better to my ears, in that you’re out of stock, and meat is the category that you’re out of stock in. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-correct-to-say-i-am-out-of-stock-of-meat/715574/25 "2015-03-25T17:39:31Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > This is via email, not in person. And if you notice I was referring to a situation where there are several similar suppliers, like in a market, which is a pretty common situation. Even so, if I’m emailing one particular supplier, I wouldn’t expect that supplier to be answering for all the other suppliers that happen to be located in the market. If you tell me you’re out of stock, i wouldn’t assume that applies to some completely separate vendor that just happens to be in the same market. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-correct-to-say-i-am-out-of-stock-of-meat/715574/26 "2015-03-27T02:20:28Z")
Thank you all. I have see elsewhere online that “I am out of stock on …” is used. Personally, I prefer “The meat is out of stock”. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![SantaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@SantaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-correct-to-say-i-am-out-of-stock-of-meat/715574/27 "2015-03-28T05:17:43Z")
Not sure why, But I’d likely say “We have no meat in stock.” or “Meat? We’re out of stock.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-correct-to-say-i-am-out-of-stock-of-meat/715574.md?page=1)