to support a person or idea
Although we did not agree with the manager we got behind his proposal at the meeting.
to act strong and aggressive with someone
The union played hardball during the contract talks.
to stop or end suddenly
The government decided to break off talks about extending the trade agreement.
to be open and honest about one's intentions
Our boss laid his cards on the table during the meeting.
to be secretive and cautious about something
My colleague was playing his cards close to his chest when he began to talk to our competitor.
equally, evenly
We shared the profits with the other company fifty-fifty.
to produce or find a thought or idea or answer
My boss was happy when I came up with some good ideas during the meeting.
to make a business agreement or deal after careful bargaining and compromise
After several hours of horse-trading we reached an agreement to buy the new computers.
to charge too much for your services, to ask for a price that is too high
The salesman came in high during the negotiations and could not sell his product.
to have two equally possible results, to be uncertain
The outcome of the election was hanging in the balance after the top candidates had an equal number of votes.
to finish an action, to keep a promise
Our boss said that wages would improve soon but he never followed through with his promise.
to become a subject in a discussion
Nothing related to the issue of quality came up in the discussion.
to near a deadline, to have little time remaining
The negotiations went down to the wire last night.
to unite and fight together
During the meeting we closed ranks and refused to compromise on any issue.
to offer something during a negotiation that is attractive to the other side
We sweetened the deal during the negotiations in order to win the new contract.
the subject or reason for a fight or dispute
The size of the project was a bone of contention between the city and the developer.
to be not published or revealed, to be a secret
I told my boss off the record that I would probably not return after the summer holiday.
to start an activity or action
We should get the ball rolling and begin the meeting at once.
to use one's best resource (the ace is the most powerful card), to use all of one's power
I played my ace when I asked my boss for more money.
to finish something (a job, a meeting etc.)
We wrapped up the meeting and went home for the weekend.
to move back or retreat from one's position
We bargained hard but the other sales representative refused to give ground.
to change your position in favor of the other person/side when you are negotiating
The union made a big concession in their negotiations with their company.
to mislead or deceive someone
The purchasing manager threw us a curve when he said that he would not need any of our products until next year.
to discuss and agree on the terms of a contract
We must try and nail down the terms of the agreement at the meeting tomorrow.
to compromise with someone
The price for the truck was too high but we met the salesman halfway and made an agreement to buy it.
to be very strict, to be stubborn, to be uncompromising
The negotiators were hard-nosed during the talks for a new contract.
to reach an agreement
After negotiating all night the government and the company came to terms on an arrangement for the new water system.
to ruin a business deal with someone
We are working hard so that we do not blow the deal with our new customer.
to confront someone boldly
The government decided to face down the striking transportation workers.
to begin the work or business that must be done
"Let's get down to brass tacks and begin talking about the new contract."
to get into a bad situation that is difficult or impossible to escape
The negotiations became easier when the other side painted themselves into a corner.
to go back to the beginning
The meeting was a failure and we were forced to go back to square one.
to weaken and be forced to give up
The company was forced to cave in to the demands of the workers for more money.
to reject something
The other negotiating team turned thumbs down on our wish to postpone the meeting until tomorrow.
to compromise during a negotiation
We know that we must give a little if we want to complete the negotiations.
to make certain or sure
We nailed down an agreement to build the staff room as quickly as possible.
to slow down and make no progress (a bog is an area of land that is wet and muddy - like a swamp)
The negotiations bogged down over the issue of part-time workers.
something that is kept back to be used to win success if nothing else works
Although we appeared weak during the negotiations we had some new information to use as our trump card.
to offer too much during a negotiation
I tried not to give away the farm during the negotiation.
it is the decision of another person or group to do something
The ball is in the union's court after the company made their final offer.
to lower the price of one's product
We decided to come down in price and try and sell our products quickly.
treatment that is not fair
The sales manager received a raw deal when he was forced to give up his former position.
to end, to finish, to stop
We would like to wind up the meeting early tomorrow.
sign a contract
The company inked a deal to buy the new product.
to arrive at a position where no progress is being made
The talks to buy the new computers have reached a stalemate and it will be difficult to start them again.
to make someone do something that they do not want to do at that time
We decided to force our opponent's hand because we wanted to finish the negotiations quickly.
to begin a discussion about something, to mention something
I tried to bring up the subject of sales commissions during the meeting.
to understand the meaning of something by guessing what is not said
The salesman did not say that no products were available but we could read between the lines and we knew that there were none available.
to mean something, to want to say something
I could not understand what the other negotiators in the meeting were driving at.
to maintain and defend one's position
The other negotiating team was very aggressive but we stood our ground and bargained hard.
at the very last moment
We were able to send the documents to the lawyer under the wire.
to start working or doing the business at hand
We must get down to business and finish our work quickly.
to achieve a compromise with someone
The company tried very hard to reach a compromise with the workers.
to do something that another person can use against you
Our manager played into the hands of the other side when he became angry during the meeting.
to bargain hard and try to make an agreement to one's advantage
The sales manager drives a hard bargain and it is difficult to negotiate with him.
to find the most important facts or central meaning of something
We spent the morning trying to get to the heart of the problem with the computer supplier.
something that prevents or obstructs progress
The salary issue was a stumbling block in the negotiations between the company and the union.
to get out of an agreement, to fail to keep a promise
The property developer backed out of the plan to build the new apartment building.
to understand clearly what someone means
I do not think that the opposite side got the message about where the negotiations are heading.
to yield in one's position during negotiations, to not continue with a threat to do something
The government backed down on their threat to give less money to the school district.
to get someone to agree to something, to persuade someone to do something
We were unable to talk the other members of our team into delaying the meeting until next week.
to achieve something
We were unable to bring off a deal to buy the new computer system for our company.
to end a negotiation successfully
We had to work hard but we were finally able to close the deal.
to be certain
The contract for the new insurance policy is in the bag.
to put something (a contract or a plan) in writing
The lawyers drew up a contract for the new housing development on the government land.
to fail to generate a positive response
The sales manager's proposal went over like a lead balloon at the meeting.
to return to negotiations with a new offer
We came back with a new offer and the negotiations continued smoothly.
to make someone agree to something or do something
The government worked hard to bring the two sides to terms.
to discover or understand the real cause of something
It will be difficult to get to the bottom of the financial problems in the company.
to do what another person wants rather than to fight and argue with him or her
After eight weeks of negotiations we gave in and agreed to sell the machinery at a discount.
to solve a problem
We spent several hours ironing out the final details of the contract.
to make something seem better or less severe
We tried to smooth over the problems between the two managers.
to refuse to give information or something to someone who has a right to it
The new manager has been holding out on the company and he will not tell anyone his plans.
to decrease a price
The department store has knocked down the price of many of their products.
near a deadline, with little time remaining
They went down to the wire but the two sides finally agreed to a new contract.
to make a good start, to succeed
We were unable to reach first base in the discussions.
to try to make someone prove that they can actually do what they say they can
The government called the union's bluff when the union threatened to go on strike.
to be liked or successful
My idea about employee evaluations went over well with the new manager.
to agree to an offer or proposal
I accepted the offer to buy my car.
to make an agreement, to make a deal or arrangement
We cut a deal and left the meeting in a positive mood.
to have something to offer during a negotiation
We were able to bring a new offer to the table during the negotiations.
to make a financial or other proposal for a product or service
I will make an offer and try to buy the house that I like.
There was much at stake during the negotiations between the nurses and the government.
to risk everything on one big effort, to try as hard as possible
After going for broke at the meeting we were able to reach an agreement.
to not show any reaction or emotion
Our boss had a poker face when he told us that our office would soon close.
to have all of the advantages
The management group was holding all the aces during the meeting with the union.
to stop someone from saying something, to interrupt someone
My friend cut me off when I was speaking.
to be in charge
During the meeting the vice-president was calling the shots.
to share, to give up part of what you want in order to make an agreement
After much give and take we reached an agreement regarding the property transfer.
to keep resisting or refuse to give up until you get the desired results
The union is holding out for a better deal and they do not plan to end their strike.
to do badly in a negotiation or a similar situation
I got the raw end of the deal when I received my new work schedule.
to talk about the important facts and details of something
The questions were endless and we were unable to cover much ground during the meeting.
to stop or quit or cancel something
We called off the meeting because everybody was busy.
We put our cards on the table and tried to solve the problem.
a change from better to worse, a delay, a reversal
The bad weather was a setback in our efforts to get the material delivered on time.
to negotiate to buy and sell something (often in a way that is very close to being dishonest or illegal)
The salesman likes to wheel and deal with his customers.
to trick someone, to arrange things unfairly (a deck is a deck of cards)
The manager stacked the deck against his opponent when he went into the meeting.
to change and make something weaker
The manager tried to water down our proposal for the new quality control system.
to defend an action or opinion despite an unfavorable reaction
We stuck to our guns during the meeting and asked for more time to consider the proposal.
to get to a point where progress is impossible
The negotiations on where to build the new bridge have reached an impasse.
to increase what is at stake or under discussion in a dispute or conflict
The union upped the ante in their dispute with the company.
to hide something of value
I thought that the negotiations would not succeed but my boss had a card up his sleeve that we did not know about.
We have not been able to get to first base regarding the terms of the new contract.
to think about an offer or proposal
The man considered the offer to buy his car.
to complete or make a deal
The company reached a deal with their supplier.
to go back and start something from the beginning
The negotiations failed so we had to go back to the drawing board and start over.
The negotiations continued down to the wire but they ended successfully.
to persuade someone not to do something
I tried to talk our sales manager out of offering a price for the product that was too low.
to negotiate a deal or agreement by discussion and debate
The negotiations lasted all night but finally we were able to hammer out an agreement.
to fail, to be ruined, to not happen
The deal for the new machinery fell through and we will have to look for another supplier.
the lowest price that one can offer to buy something
The buyer made a rock-bottom offer to buy our product.
to be prolonged, to continue for a long time
The talks between the company and the lawyers dragged on for several weeks.
to set a limit about what will be done or discussed
The union was flexible on the salary issue but they drew the line at talking about health benefits.
to not be faithful or loyal to one's word or an agreement
The company directors went back on their word to give the employees a salary increase.
to complete or make an agreement
The supplier and the buyer reached an agreement about the new product.
to sell your product for less than a competitor
The new discount store is trying hard to undercut other stores in the area.
to begin an activity or action
I will start the ball rolling by making some telephone calls to my coworkers.
to offer a low amount of money for a product or service
The company came in low with an offer for our product.
to be successful after overcoming a difficulty
We were able to break through in our efforts to find a solution to the problem.
a success that comes after overcoming a difficulty
There was a breakthrough in the talks to end the teacher's strike.
to talk about something without giving a direct answer
The manager was beating around the bush and never said anything important.
to discuss something
We asked for some time during the meeting to talk over the new proposal.
to make progress
We are bargaining hard and making headway with the new agreement.
to join one group against another in a debate or quarrel
I did not take sides in the discussion about buying a new computer.
exactly, nothing done wrong or left undone, perfectly
The union representative followed the contract agreement to the letter.
an agreement that is not written down but is made by two people or two groups who trust each other
I made a gentlemen's agreement with the carpenter to build some new furniture.
to fail, to stop
The negotiations broke down last night when both sides refused to compromise.
to succeed in doing something difficult or impossible
The contract seemed impossible to win but we pulled it off through our skillful negotiating.
to get something as if by magic, to invent something, to imagine something
The problem was difficult but somehow we were able to pull a solution out of a hat.
The small country raised the ante in the trade dispute with the other countries.
to act slowly or reluctantly
The government dragged their heels in talks with the union about the new contract.
shared beliefs or interests
There was no common ground between the two sides and the negotiations did not go well.