Negotiations are not easy, but they're even harder if you're not a native speaker. And because knowing common expressions will help you get the upper hand, here you have a list with the 30 must-know idioms about negotiations and agreements that you can start using today at work.
Idioms About Negotiations & Agreements
Here you have a list with the most common idioms about negotiations and agreements. Check it out and put them in practice at work or with a teacher:
| ■ The speaker was just beating around the bush and never said anything important. | - Talk about something without giving a direct answer |
| ■ We will bend over backwards if the other party is committed. | - Make every effort to achieve something, especially to be fair or helpful |
| ■ After insisting for months, the manager caved in to his demands. | - Submit under pressure; give in |
| ■ You're the boss here – you get to call the shots. | - To be the person who controls a situation and/or makes the decisions |
| ■ When I first met him I didn't like him but I've changed my mind. | - Change your decision |
| ■ The salesman came in high during the negotiations and could not sell his product. / The company came in low with an offer for our product. | - Charge too much/too little for your services, to ask for a price that is too high/low |
| ■ The participants seem unable to find common ground on the issue of environment. | - Agree about something, share opinions or interests |
| ■ The questions were endless and we were unable to cover much ground during the meeting. | - Talk about the important facts and details of something |
| ■ The union was flexible on the salary issue but they drew the line at talking about health benefits. | - Set a limit on what one is willing to do or accept |
| ■ Our boss said that wages would improve soon but he never followed through with his promise. | - To be consequent with what was agreed, to keep a promise |
| ■ She got the short end of the stick in the deal. | - To be in a disadvantaged situation, to suffer the bad effects of something |
| ■ My grandfather was such a hard-nosed businessman. | - To be tough, stubborn, or uncompromising |
| ■ She has a card up her sleeve if they ever try to fire her, since she knows about all those secret business practices. | - Have a strategy kept secret and in reserve for use when needed |
| ■ I kept looking over to see if she was impressed, but she wore a poker face throughout the presentation. | - A blank, emotionless expression that gives no indication of one's thoughts or intentions |
| ■ After hours of fierce negotiations, the president got the upper hand. | - A position of advantage, power, and/or control |
| ■ I know she really wants the promotion, but she really hit me below the belt by telling the boss about my personal problems. | - Unfairly target someone’s weakness or vulnerability |
| ■ Management holds all the cards when it comes to the negotiations over job cuts. |
- To be in a position of power or control over someone or something else |
| ■ The election is in the bag. |
- Certain/Sure to be won, achieved, or obtained |
| ■ You deserve honesty, so I'm going to lay my cards on the table: I can't offer you this job, but we may have another position that you'd be good for. | - To be frank and outspoken; to reveal something that you have kept hidden, such as your, intentions, opinion, etc. |
| ■ We had no contract; it was done by a gentleman's agreement. | - An arrangement or understanding which is based on the trust of both or all parties, rather than being legally binding |
| ■ I'll agree to some of your requests if you'll meet me halfway and allow me to implement some of my ideas. | - Compromise with someone, often in an argument or disagreement |
| ■ Many consumers are still on the fence, waiting for a less expensive computer to come along. | - Undecided; not able to make a decision |
| ■ He's a nice guy, but he can play hardball when he needs to. | - To be firm and determined in order to get what you want |
| ■ As a manager, you have to put your foot down sometimes, or your staff will walk all over you. | - Use your authority; be inflexible in your position or decision |
| ■ (a) Why are you second-guessing me now? You agreed with this strategy just yesterday! / (b) He had to second-guess what the environmental regulations would be in five years' time. | - (a) Question or doubt someone or something retroactively. (b) Try to anticipate how something will happen or what someone will do |
| ■ Why don't you sleep on the offer and let us know your decision in the morning? | - Postpone a decision until the following day so that one has additional time to consider it |
| ■ I kept trying to get our boss to find a bigger office, but she stood her ground. | - Refuse to change your opinion or give in |
| ■ I’ve done everything I could. The ball is in your court now. | - It’s your turn to make a decision or take action |
| ■ Andrea was about to play her trump card - without her signature none of the money could be released. | - A resource used to gain an advantage over others, often by being held and then used at an opportune time |
| ■ Yes, we did have our disagreements but that's water under the bridge now. | - Problems that someone had in the past that they do not worry about because they happened a long time ago and cannot now be changed |
Conversation questions
- Do you tend to second-guess your decisions?
- When was the last time you needed to sleep on something before making a decision?
- Do you ever play hardball when you negotiate?
- Talk about a time when you were on the fence about something.
- Talk about a time when your manager put his/her foot down.
- Would you say you're a hard-nosed negotiator or you don't mind meeting the other person halfway?
- When did you feel that a negotiation or a deal was in the bag?
- Do you always lay your cards on the table or do you tend to keep a card up your sleeve?
- When was a time in which you didn't follow through with a promise?
- Have you ever felt that you got the short end of the stick?
- Did you cover much ground during your last meeting?
- Who calls the shots in your department?
- When was the last time you caved in to someone's demands?
- Do you feel you always bend over backwards at work?
- What do you do when a colleague starts beating around the bush during a meeting or a presentation?
Exercise
Fill the gaps with the correct word:
- He said he was uncompromising, but after some pressure he __ in to our requests.
- Listen, I want to lay all my __ on the table - we can't pay that much money but we can give you this package instead.
- I always feel I'm bending over __ and get nothing in return.
- You should talk to my manager about that, she's the one calling the __.
- I thought it would be a smooth negotiation, but she was playing __.
- It's a lot of money, let me __ on it and I'll tell you something tomorrow.
- They accepted our offer too quickly, I feel we came in __.
- He seemed like a nice guy, but we were unable to find common __ when we talked.
- I'm very flexible on the deadline, but I have to draw the __ with the budget.
- You promised to send me all the information, but you never followed __.
- I know we need to make a decision, but I'm still on the __.
- How are the negotiations going? - Well, it's not in the __ yet, but I think we've got the upper __.
- I didn't expect it, but he played his __ card and now we're stuck.
- We didn't have the best start, but that's water under the __ now.
- Please stop __ around the bush and get to the point.
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