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Here is the context from a novel 'Angels and Demons' by Dan Brown. I know 'sold' is the past tense of sell, but here, I think the word has another meaning.
Vittoria sounded only slightly more hopeful. "I suppose Galileo could have created some sort of mathematical code that went unnoticed by the clergy." "You don't sound sold," Langdon said, moving down the row.
hayeonemily
Posted 2015-10-05T10:41:44.207
Reputation: 811
15
"You don't sound convinced" is a clearer expression of the ideas, but sold is a colloquialism.
One trying to persuade another of an idea can be said to be selling the idea. If a person doesn't sound sold [on it] then they haven't bought it, and don't accept it enough to make a commitment.
Sam Liddicott
Posted 2015-10-05T10:41:44.207
Reputation: 251
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Sold in this context means:
uncritically attached to or enthusiastic about
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sold
It's often used in the form sold on as in:
I'm sold on the idea.
Langdon is saying that Vittoria is not yet willing to accept his statement as true. She might at some point in the future, but would require more convincing.
Graham Nicol
Posted 2015-10-05T10:41:44.207
Reputation: 1 753
1For the record, it’s standard English style to italicize (or underline, when hand-writing) the titles of books, such as Angels and Demons. (And on Stack Exchange, you can italicize by surrounding the text with asterisks
*.) – KRyan – 2015-10-05T17:01:58.5101@KRyan the wonderful thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from. – Gusdor – 2015-10-06T07:07:11.333
If he was trying to sell her the idea, and she bought it, then she would be sold (as would the idea), but she doesn't sound like she bought it. – Octopus – 2015-10-06T07:48:10.930
@KRyan Quotation marks are a perfectly reasonable way to set titles. – David Richerby – 2015-10-06T10:02:16.817