gain leverage
/ɡeɪn ˈlev.ər.ɪdʒ/
Meaning
To 'gain leverage' means to obtain a strategic advantage or power that can be used to influence a negotiation, decision, or outcome in your favor. In business, this often involves acquiring key information, forming strategic alliances, or holding a unique asset that the other party needs. The tone is formal, analytical, and highly strategic.
Examples
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By acquiring their main competitor, we will gain leverage in the upcoming merger talks.
By acquiring their main competitor, we will gain leverage in the upcoming merger talks.
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The team worked hard to gather market data to gain leverage during the contract renewal.
The team worked hard to gather market data to gain leverage during the contract renewal.
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Having multiple job offers allowed her to gain leverage when negotiating her starting salary.
Having multiple job offers allowed her to gain leverage when negotiating her starting salary.
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We need to secure the patent early if we want to gain leverage over our rivals.
We need to secure the patent early if we want to gain leverage over our rivals.
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They attempted to gain leverage by threatening to pull their products from our shelves.
They attempted to gain leverage by threatening to pull their products from our shelves.
Common Mistakes
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✗ We need to win leverage in this deal.
✓ We need to gain leverage in this deal.
The standard collocations are 'gain leverage' or 'have leverage'. 'Win leverage' is not used by native speakers.
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✗ The company gained leverage against their employees.
✓ The company gained leverage over their employees.
In business and legal contexts, you gain leverage 'over' someone or 'in' a negotiation, rather than 'against' them.
Related Expressions
Practice
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The union hopes to ___ during negotiations by organizing a strike.
💡 Obtain a strategic advantage or bargaining power.
Show answer
gain leverage
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Before you enter the meeting, make sure you have enough data to ___ over the buyers.
💡 Secure an influential advantage.
Show answer
gain leverage