make a deal

Meaning

This phrase means to reach a mutual agreement, bargain, or transaction between two or more parties. It is commonly used in business negotiations, sales, and everyday compromises. The tone is neutral and highly practical, fitting both casual agreements and formal corporate contracts.

Examples

• After hours of negotiation, we finally managed to make a deal with the suppliers.

  After hours of negotiation, we finally managed to make a deal with the suppliers.

• If you can lower the price by ten percent, we can make a deal today.

  If you can lower the price by ten percent, we can make a deal today.

• They are hoping to make a deal with a major distributor before the end of the quarter.

  They are hoping to make a deal with a major distributor before the end of the quarter.

• I'm sure we can make a deal that benefits both of our companies.

  I'm sure we can make a deal that benefits both of our companies.

• We couldn't make a deal because their terms were simply too restrictive.

  We couldn't make a deal because their terms were simply too restrictive.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We did a deal with the client yesterday.

  ✓ We made a deal with the client yesterday.

  While 'do a deal' is sometimes heard in informal British English, 'make a deal' is the standard collocated phrase globally. Avoid mixing up 'do' and 'make'.

• ✗ They want to make deal with us.

  ✓ They want to make a deal with us.

  'Deal' is a countable noun in this context and requires the indefinite article 'a'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If they agree to our terms, we will ___ with them tomorrow.

  💡 Reach an agreement.

  Show answer

  make a deal

• We've been negotiating for weeks, and we are finally ready to ___.

  💡 Finalize the transaction.

  Show answer

  make a deal