12 Negotiation Idioms in English with Meaning and Examples

Last updated on October 25, 2024 by Isabella Claire

Idioms are expressions that have a figurative meaning that is different from their literal meaning. Using idioms in business negotiations can help us convey our message more effectively and make our communication more engaging. In this article, we will explore some of the most common idioms used in business negotiations and how they can be used to our advantage.

Negotiation Idioms List

Negotiation Idioms
Negotiation Idioms – Created by 7ESL
  • Agreement In Principle
  • An Offer One Can’t Refuse
  • Back And Forth
  • Come to Terms With (Something)
  • Draw a Line in the Sand
  • Drive a Hard Bargain
  • Drive a Wedge Between
  • Give and Take
  • Stand One’s Ground
  • Sweeten the Deal
  • Sweetheart Deal
  • Trial Balloon

Expressions & Idioms for Negotiations with Meaning & Examples

Examples of phrases & idioms for business negotiations.

Agreement In Principle

  • Meaning: When both parties agree on the general terms of a deal, but the details still need to be worked out, they have reached an agreement in principle.
  • Example: “We have reached an agreement in principle on the terms of the contract, but we still need to iron out the details.”

An Offer One Can’t Refuse

  • Meaning: This expression is often used to describe an offer that is so good that it is difficult to turn down.
  • Example: “The other party made us an offer we couldn’t refuse, so we accepted it.”

Back And Forth

  • Meaning: When negotiations involve a lot of discussion and negotiation, they can be described as going back and forth.
  • Example: “We went back and forth on the terms of the deal for several hours before we finally reached an agreement.”

Come to Terms With (Something)

  • Meaning: When both parties agree on the terms of a deal, they have come to terms with each other.
  • Example: “After some negotiation, we were able to come to terms with the other party on the price of the product.”

Draw a Line in the Sand

  • Meaning: This expression is often used to describe a point beyond which one is not willing to negotiate.
  • Example: “We are willing to negotiate on the price, but we have drawn a line in the sand when it comes to the delivery date.”

Drive a Hard Bargain

  • Meaning: When someone negotiates aggressively and tries to get the best possible deal, they are said to be driving a hard bargain.
  • Example: “The other party drove a hard bargain, but we were able to negotiate a fair deal in the end.”

Drive a Wedge Between

  • Meaning: When one party tries to create a division or conflict between the other party’s members, they are said to be driving a wedge between them.
  • Example: “The other party tried to drive a wedge between us by offering a better deal to one of our team members.”

Give and Take

  • Meaning: Negotiations often involve a compromise where both parties give up something in order to get something in return. This is known as give and take.
  • Example: “We were able to reach a deal through give and take, where both parties compromised on certain terms.”

Stand One’s Ground

  • Meaning: When someone refuses to back down on a certain point during negotiations, they are said to be standing their ground.
  • Example: “We stood our ground on the delivery date and were able to negotiate a better price as a result.”

Sweeten the Deal

  • Meaning: When one party offers something extra to make a deal more attractive, they are said to be sweetening the deal.
  • Example: “We sweetened the deal by offering a discount on future purchases if the other party agreed to the terms.”

Sweetheart Deal

  • Meaning: This expression is often used to describe a deal that is made between two parties who have a close relationship and may not be entirely fair to others.
  • Example: “The other party offered us a sweetheart deal because we have worked together for many years.”

Trial Balloon

  • Meaning: When one party suggests an idea or proposal to see how the other party will react, they are said to be floating a trial balloon.
  • Example: “We floated a trial balloon by suggesting a higher price, and the other party was willing to negotiate a lower one.”

Related Terms

Learn common business idioms, expressions and sayings classified by different topics.

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