Shop for + person (Meaning)
I would like to know the meaning of the phrasal verb "to shop for" when the object is a person.

Examples:
1. I admit, your mother's difficult to shop for.
2. This woman is impossible to shop for.

Are these sentences expressing to buy a person as if they were a thing?

Question

Shop for + person (Meaning)
I would like to know the meaning of the phrasal verb "to shop for" when the object is a person.

Examples:
1. I admit, your mother's difficult to shop for.
2. This woman is impossible to shop for.

Are these sentences expressing to buy a person as if they were a thing?

Answer

No the most common use of to shop for someone is to shop for a gift for someone so for example I hate shopping for my mother, she has everything so I never know what to get her.

Answer

Hey Jordi ~ it means "to do something for someone."
"I plan to clean for her." (do some cleaning for someone)
"I'm going to write for her." (do some writing for someone)
"They were a pleasure to sing for." (do some singing for some people)
"He was fun to work for." (do some work for someone)
"There's the lady I bank for." (go to the bank for someone)
"They were easy to paint for." (do some painting for some people)

Answer

¡Muchas gracias, Carlos!

Answer

En español:

1. Admito que comprar algo para tu madre es complicado
2. Es imposible saber qué comprarle a esta mujer

In english, the 'shop for' means to know what to buy for that person. Maybe you are looking for a birthday present for 'Julie' and you don't know what to buy her:

Julie is a hard person to shop for

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