strike a deal

Meaning

To reach an official agreement or compromise, especially in business, sales, or negotiations. It implies that both parties have successfully come to a mutual decision.

Examples

• After hours of negotiation, the two companies finally managed to strike a deal.

  After hours of negotiation, the two companies finally managed to strike a deal.

• We hope to strike a deal with our new suppliers before the end of the week.

  We hope to strike a deal with our new suppliers before the end of the week.

• If we can strike a deal on the price, we will sign the contract today.

  If we can strike a deal on the price, we will sign the contract today.

• They were unable to strike a deal because both sides refused to compromise on the terms.

  They were unable to strike a deal because both sides refused to compromise on the terms.

• The real estate agent helped us strike a deal that benefited both the buyer and the seller.

  The real estate agent helped us strike a deal that benefited both the buyer and the seller.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We managed to make a deal with the client yesterday.

  ✓ We managed to strike a deal with the client yesterday.

  While 'make a deal' is grammatically correct and common, 'strike a deal' is a stronger, highly natural collocation specifically used when an agreement is successfully reached after negotiation.

• ✗ They stroke a deal last night.

  ✓ They struck a deal last night.

  The past tense of the verb 'strike' is 'struck', not 'stroke' (which is a different verb meaning to pet or hit gently).

Related Expressions

Practice

• After a long discussion about the terms, we were able to ___.

  💡 Successfully reach an agreement.

  Show answer

  strike a deal

• The purchasing department is trying to ___ with a cheaper manufacturing partner.

  💡 Negotiate and finalize an agreement.

  Show answer

  strike a deal