Negotiation Idioms

• an offer I/you/he/she/we/they can't refuse = a very attractive offer

That's an offer we can't refuse. We'll buy the car at that great price.

• to sweeten the deal = to make the offer more appealing

I wasn't sure I wanted to accept the job until the company sweetened the deal by offering me a company car and petrol.

• a sweetheart deal = a very attractive and favourable agreement between two sides in an unofficial or illicit way (and perhaps unfavourable to a third side)

The company made a sweetheart deal with the labour unions in the foreign country so that it could pay the foreign workers much less that their American counterparts.

• back and forth = negotiations or discussions between two parties - one side says something and the other side replies

We are going back and forth in our negotiations for the merger, and we can't reach an agreement.

• give and take = mutual concessions and compromise

You can't expect to have it all your way; you've got to give and take. Perhaps you could reduce your prices so that we could place larger orders. That would be a win-win.

• to meet (someone) halfway = to compromise

I can't agree to that completely, but I can meet you halfway. I'll agree to some of your demands.

• to draw a line in the sand = issue an ultimatum; set a limit that you refuse to go beyond

The company drew a line in the sand when it came to pay rises. They set a limit of 1%.

• to draw a line = to set a boundary or limit showing what someone is not willing to do

We are prepared to consider reducing our number of employees, but we draw the line at closing the entire factory. We are not willing to close the factory.

• to stand one's (my, your, his, her, our, their) ground = to insist on one's position; to refuse to back down; to refuse to compromise

My colleague laughed at my idea, but I stood my ground and explained my idea in detail, and my colleague eventually agreed with me.

• to drive a hard bargain = to be skillful in negotiating in your own favour; to be severe in negotiating to one's own advantage

She drives a hard bargain, so I don't think you'll get what you want.

• to back out of (an agreement / an offer / negotiations) = to withdraw from; to decide not to go through with

They backed out of negotiations before we could get them to sign on the dotted line.

• The ball is in (my, your, his, her, our, their) court. = It is (that person's) turn to make a decision.

We made our offer, so now the ball's in their court. We are waiting to hear their reply to our offer.

• to break down = to fail; to stop; to cease

Negotiations broke down this week as neither side would compromise.

• to talk someone into = to persuade someone to do something; to get someone to do something

Paul talked me into giving the presentation even though I really didn't feel comfortable speaking in front of so many people.

• a setback = an unexpected delay or stop in progress

Unfortunately, we've had a setback in negotiations; we seem to have hit a stalemate (a blockage, a stoppage, a deadlock, a standstill)

• to put one's cards on the table = to be open and honest about one's intentions or position

Let's just put our cards on the table and be honest about what we think.

• to wrap (something) up / to wrap up (something) = to finish

Well, that wraps up the negotiation idioms. Bye for now!