Business Negotiation Vocabulary

noun an agreement or harmony between people or groups

verb to be in agreement or harmony

• According to the company's policy, employees must request approval in accord with the established procedures.
• We need to make sure our plans are in accord with what the boss wants.
• Let's all be on the same accord and get this project done.
• Their minds were in accord, creating a harmonious atmosphere during the meeting.

noun a person or company that provides a particular service, typically one that involves arranging transactions between two other parties

• The real estate agent showed us several properties in the area.
• My mom's insurance agent helped us with our claim.
• The secret agent went undercover to complete the mission.
• Time is the agent of change in our lives.

verb to act as an impartial judge in order to settle a dispute

• The company hired a professional arbitrator to arbitrate the dispute between the two parties.
• Let's bring in a neutral third party to help arbitrate this argument.
• I can't believe they're making us arbitrate this mess.
• Sometimes it feels like my conscience has to arbitrate between right and wrong.

verb to request or seek something

preposition used to indicate a request or demand for something

• When you need assistance, it is appropriate to ask for help from your colleagues.
• If you're not sure about something, just ask for clarification.
• Don't be afraid to ask for a hand if you're struggling with the project.
• Sometimes you have to ask for forgiveness rather than permission in order to get things done.

noun a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

adjective a word naming an attribute of a noun, such as sweet, red, or technical

adverb a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• The two countries are currently at odds over trade policies.
• John and Mary are always at odds with each other about what movie to watch.
• The siblings are constantly at odds over who gets to use the car first.
• His mind and heart were at odds with each other, making it difficult for him to make a decision.

noun a withdrawal or retreat from a commitment or agreement

verb to withdraw or retreat from a commitment or agreement

• The company decided to back out of the deal due to unforeseen circumstances.
• I was supposed to go to the concert with my friend, but she backed out at the last minute.
• I told him I would help him move, but then I backed out because I had other plans.
• She was going to take on the new project, but she backed out when she realized how much work it would be.

verb to cancel or abandon something that has been planned or scheduled

• The company had to call off the meeting due to unforeseen circumstances.
• They had to call off the party because of the bad weather.
• We should totally call off our plans and just chill at home instead.
• After realizing the mistake, she decided to call off the relationship before it went any further.

noun the act of bringing something to an end or completion

adjective final or last in a series

• The closing of the deal was scheduled for next Friday.
• We're almost done, just a few more things to wrap up before closing.
• Let's hurry up and finish this so we can get to the closing party.
• The closing of one chapter in my life led to the opening of a new and exciting one.

noun something that is taken into account when making a decision or judgment

• The committee will take your proposal into consideration before making a decision.
• Hey, just a quick consideration - have you thought about how this will affect your schedule?
• Dude, I don't think she even gave your feelings a second consideration.
• In the grand scheme of things, her opinion held little consideration.

noun a claim made to rebut or oppose another claim in a legal or argumentative context

• The defendant filed a counterclaim against the plaintiff in response to the lawsuit.
• The other party made a counterclaim back at them.
• They hit back with a counterclaim of their own.
• In the game of legal battles, a counterclaim is like a strategic move on the chessboard.

noun a person or thing that corresponds to or has the same function as another person or thing in a different place or situation.

• The CEO met with her international counterpart to discuss the merger.
• I caught up with my work counterpart over lunch today.
• My gym counterpart always pushes me to lift heavier weights.
• In literature, the protagonist's evil counterpart often represents their inner struggles.

noun a round, white part of the eye that is used for seeing

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The two leaders stood eyeball to eyeball during the negotiation.
• I was eyeball to eyeball with my friend in the staring contest.
• The competitors were eyeball to eyeball in the final round of the tournament.
• The tension in the room was so high, you could cut it with a knife as the two rivals stood eyeball to eyeball.

noun a period of intense bargaining or wrangling over the price of something

verb to dispute or bargain persistently, especially over the cost of something

• The customer tried to haggle with the vendor over the price of the antique vase.
• I always try to haggle at the flea market to get a better deal.
• Let's see if we can haggle the price down on this used car.
• Sometimes you have to haggle with yourself to make a decision.

verb past tense of the verb 'fight', indicating that a battle or competition occurred

adjective describing the level of intensity or effort put into a fight or competition

adverb modifying the verb 'fought' to indicate the manner in which the fighting occurred

• The team emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle on the field.
• It was a hard-fought match, but we managed to come out on top.
• That game was so intense, it was a real hard-fought showdown.
• Their relationship was a hard-fought journey, but they eventually found common ground.

noun the coming together and agreement of ideas or opinions

• The meeting of minds between the two CEOs resulted in a successful merger.
• The meeting of minds during the project brainstorming session was really productive.
• The meeting of minds at the party last night was epic.
• The meeting of minds between art and science is where innovation truly happens.

noun a small metal spike with a broadened flat head, driven typically into wood with a hammer to join things together or to serve as a peg or hook

verb to secure or finalize something, typically after much discussion or effort

• It is important to nail down all the details before finalizing the contract.
• Let's nail down the time for our meeting tomorrow.
• I need to nail down my plans for the weekend.
• She finally managed to nail down the elusive concept after hours of studying.

noun a final remark or action, typically an insult or criticism, made as someone is leaving

• Before leaving the meeting, he made sure to deliver a well-thought-out parting shot to address any lingering concerns.
• As he walked out the door, he couldn't resist throwing in a cheeky parting shot to lighten the mood.
• His parting shot was to drop the mic and walk away, leaving everyone speechless.
• Her resignation letter was her parting shot at the company, expressing all her frustrations and disappointments.

noun a proposal or offer

verb to offer or present for acceptance

• The lawyer proffered a settlement offer to the opposing party.
• I'll proffer my help if you need assistance with your project.
• He proffered to cover the bill for our night out.
• She proffered her heart to him, hoping he would reciprocate her feelings.

verb to offer or present for acceptance

• The lawyer proffered a settlement offer to the opposing party.
• He proffered his help with fixing the car.
• She proffered to cover for her friend at work.
• The artist proffered his heart and soul into his latest masterpiece.

verb to reach an agreement or resolution with someone

preposition used to indicate the person or party with whom an agreement or resolution is reached

• The company decided to settle with the plaintiff out of court.
• I think we can settle with him on a price that works for both of us.
• Let's just settle with them and get this over with.
• Sometimes it's better to settle with your inner demons rather than fight them constantly.

verb to close or secure something by sewing

adverb used to describe how something is done, in this case, how something is sewn

• The tailor will sew up the hole in your jacket.
• I can sew up that tear in your shirt for you.
• I'll sew up this project by the end of the day.
• She managed to sew up the deal with the client.

verb to exclude or prevent someone or something from entering or participating

adjective used to describe a situation where someone is excluded or denied access

• The team's strong defense helped them shut out their opponents in the final game.
• I tried to join the conversation but they shut me out.
• She always shuts out anyone who disagrees with her.
• His fear of failure shut out any possibility of taking risks in his career.

noun an act of rejecting with disdain or contempt

verb to reject with disdain or contempt

• She decided to spurn the job offer as it did not align with her career goals.
• He's going to spurn the invitation to the party because he doesn't like the host.
• I can't believe she spurned him after all he did for her.
• The artist chose to spurn traditional techniques and instead experimented with new forms of expression.

noun a connection or fastening

verb to secure or fasten with a rope, string, or cord

• The project manager had to tie up some loose ends before the deadline.
• I need to tie up a few things before we can leave.
• Let's tie up this meeting and grab some lunch.
• The detective was able to tie up all the loose ends of the case and solve it.

noun an instance of transacting something

verb to carry out or conduct (business, negotiations, etc.)

• It is important to transact all business deals through official channels.
• Let's transact the payment for the goods before they are delivered.
• I'll transact the cash for the concert tickets with my friend later.
• In order to achieve success, one must be willing to transact with challenges along the way.

noun a session of physical exercise or training

verb to engage in physical exercise or training; to solve or resolve a problem

• I need to work out the logistics of the project before we can proceed.
• Let's work out a time to meet up for coffee this week.
• I'm trying to work out a deal with the seller to get a better price.
• I'm still trying to work out my feelings about the situation.

noun a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

conjunction a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause

• There are no ifs, ands, or buts about the company's strict policy on data privacy.
• I'm telling you, there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it - we have to leave early to avoid traffic.
• Listen up, there are no ifs, ands, or buts when it comes to meeting the deadline.
• When it comes to safety regulations, there are no ifs, ands, or buts - they must be followed to the letter.

verb To contribute money or resources, especially to a pot in poker or other gambling games before the cards are dealt.

• Before the game begins, each player must ante up an equal amount of money.
• Come on guys, ante up so we can start this poker game!
• Hey dude, ante up or get out of here.
• If you want to be successful, you need to ante up and put in the effort.

noun a word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or state of being

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

article a word that is used to specify a noun, such as 'the' or 'a'

• After careful consideration, I have decided to take your proposal under advisement.
• I'll think about it and take your suggestion under advisement.
• I'll mull it over and take what you said under advisement.
• I will ponder your words and take them under advisement.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun

conjunction a word that connects words, phrases, or clauses

• After a thorough investigation, we can confirm that the project is now home and hosed.
• Don't worry, we've got everything under control - we're home and hosed.
• We nailed the presentation, so we're definitely home and hosed now.
• With all the necessary precautions in place, we can say that our safety is home and hosed.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

article a word that is used to indicate whether a noun is specific or unspecific

• The project being completed on time is now off the cards due to unforeseen delays.
• Our plans for a weekend getaway are off the cards because of the bad weather forecast.
• Looks like that party is off the cards now that the venue got shut down.
• His hopes of getting a promotion this year are completely off the cards after missing multiple deadlines.

noun get (something that is obtained)

adjective tough (difficult to deal with or overcome)

• Securing funding for the project was a tough get, but we managed to convince the investors in the end.
• Getting tickets to the concert is a tough get, they sell out so quickly.
• Trying to borrow his car is a tough get, he's very protective of it.
• Winning her trust was a tough get, but once I did, our relationship grew stronger.

adjective describing an agreement or arrangement that was made beforehand

• The terms of the contract were pre-agreed upon by both parties.
• We had already pre-agreed on the meeting time, so there was no need to discuss it again.
• We're all set for the trip - everything is pre-agreed and good to go.
• Their minds were pre-agreed on the decision before the meeting even started.

noun A person or entity that makes an offer or proposal

• The offeror presented a detailed proposal to the potential client.
• The person making the offer gave a really good deal.
• The offeror hooked us up with a sweet offer.
• The offeror was like a magician, waving their wand and making tempting offers appear.

noun a person to whom something is offered

• The offeree has the right to accept or reject the offer presented to them.
• The offeree can decide whether or not to take up the offer.
• It's up to the offeree to say yes or no to the offer.
• The offeree holds the key to unlocking the potential of the offer.

verb to give or grant something to someone, typically in a formal or legal manner

• The employee was accorded a promotion for his exceptional performance.
• She was accorded VIP treatment at the event because of her celebrity status.
• The cool kids were accorded front row seats at the concert.
• Respect should be accorded to all individuals regardless of their background.

noun a word used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• The decision was accorded with the company's policies and procedures.
• He made sure his actions accorded with the rules.
• She always does what accords with the group's vibe.
• Her beliefs accorded with the rhythm of the universe.

noun a stipulation or condition added to an agreement or contract

adjective relating to or characteristic of a stipulation

• The adstipulation in the contract clearly outlines the responsibilities of both parties.
• Make sure you read the adstipulation carefully before signing anything.
• I don't want to deal with all these adstipulations, it's too much hassle.
• The adstipulation acted as a roadmap for navigating the complex agreement.

adverb a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb, expressing manner, place, time, or degree

• The witness answered affirmatively when asked if they saw the suspect at the scene of the crime.
• She nodded affirmatively when I asked if she wanted to go to the movies.
• He totally said affirmatively to going to the party tonight.
• The artist's use of bold colors affirmatively expressed their emotions in the painting.