What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shill
Example
The salesman was accused of being a shill for the company, as he only recommended their products. [shill: noun]
Example
The celebrity was paid to shill the new perfume on social media. [shill: verb]
tout
Example
The street vendor was touting his wares to anyone who passed by. [tout: verb]
Example
The concert tickets were being sold by touts outside the stadium. [touts: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Tout is more commonly used than shill in everyday language. Tout is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while shill is less common and has a more specific meaning.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between shill and tout?
Both shill and tout are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.