give and take

Meaning

A process of mutual compromise where both sides make concessions to reach an agreement. It implies a healthy, balanced relationship in negotiations or teamwork where no single party gets everything they want.

Examples

• In any successful partnership, there has to be some give and take.

  In any successful partnership, there has to be some give and take.

• Negotiations went smoothly because both teams were willing to engage in some give and take.

  Negotiations went smoothly because both teams were willing to engage in some give and take.

• We had to compromise on the budget, but that's just the natural give and take of business.

  We had to compromise on the budget, but that's just the natural give and take of business.

• If there's no give and take, the contract negotiations will completely stall.

  If there's no give and take, the contract negotiations will completely stall.

• Management and the union reached a deal after hours of give and take.

  Management and the union reached a deal after hours of give and take.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need more give-and-takes in this project.

  ✓ We need more give and take in this project.

  'Give and take' is typically used as an uncountable noun phrase and does not take a plural '-s'.

• ✗ It was a hard take and give process.

  ✓ It was a hard give and take process.

  The word order is fixed. It must always be 'give and take', never 'take and give'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• To make this merger work, there needs to be some ________ between both leadership teams.

  💡 mutual compromise

  Show answer

  give and take

• Contract negotiations are all about ________; you can't expect to get everything you ask for.

  💡 making concessions on both sides

  Show answer

  give and take