hammer out an agreement

Meaning

This expression means to reach an agreement or resolve a dispute through hard work, long negotiations, and compromising on difficult details. It suggests that the process is intense, laborious, and requires significant effort from both sides, much like shaping metal with a hammer. It is commonly used in business, legal, and political contexts when discussions are tough but eventually successful.

Examples

• After a grueling twelve-hour session, the union and management finally managed to hammer out an agreement.

  After a grueling twelve-hour session, the union and management finally managed to hammer out an agreement.

• We need to sit down with the legal team tomorrow to hammer out an agreement before the deadline.

  We need to sit down with the legal team tomorrow to hammer out an agreement before the deadline.

• It took weeks of intense negotiations, but we were able to hammer out an agreement that satisfies both parties.

  It took weeks of intense negotiations, but we were able to hammer out an agreement that satisfies both parties.

• If we want to avoid a lawsuit, we must hammer out an agreement regarding the patent rights.

  If we want to avoid a lawsuit, we must hammer out an agreement regarding the patent rights.

• They are still trying to hammer out an agreement on the final pricing structure.

  They are still trying to hammer out an agreement on the final pricing structure.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We hammered an agreement after the meeting.

  ✓ We hammered out an agreement after the meeting.

  The phrasal verb requires the particle 'out' to convey the meaning of producing or resolving something through effort.

• ✗ They hammered out a decision to fire him.

  ✓ They made a decision to fire him.

  'Hammer out' is typically used with nouns representing mutual agreements, deals, or treaties, not simple unilateral decisions.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Despite their differences, the two tech giants managed to ___________ that benefited both.

  💡 Think of shaping metal through hard work.

  Show answer

  hammer out an agreement

• The lawyers are meeting tonight to try and ___________ before the court date.

  💡 To finalize a deal through tough negotiation.

  Show answer

  hammer out an agreement