panic buying
noun [mass noun]
The action of buying large quantities of a particular product or commodity due to sudden fears of a forthcoming shortage or price rise: panic buying is leading to 15-30 minute queues at almost all petrol stations over here...
- Part two of my contingency plan addresses the food shortage caused by panic buying.
- The specter of the unfolding financial crisis incited some panic buying of Treasuries.
- However, following Nestlé's announcement earlier this month, there was panic buying of condensed milk across Scotland.
Derivatives
panic-buy
- The advice we've received is not to make any unnecessary car trips for four days and not to panic-buy gas.
- An Asda spokesman said he was confident they had enough stock as long as people did not panic-buy.
- Car drivers in some parts of the country have already started to panic-buy despite pleas to fill up cars as normal.