Negotiation Expressions Made Simple

Negotiation is an important skill. Whether you are discussing a deal, asking for a better price, or solving a conflict, knowing the right phrases can help.

If you are learning English, understanding and using these phrases will make you sound more professional and confident.

Here are some easy-to-understand phrases for different parts of a negotiation. (To help you practice, check out this example: A Business Negotiation Dialogue in English.)

Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses

Starting the Negotiation

These phrases can help you start:

• "Thank you for meeting with me today."
• "Let’s discuss how we can work together."
• "What are your main priorities in this deal?"

Making Offers

When you want to suggest something, you can use these simple expressions:

• "We can offer you [specific terms]."
• "How about we agree on [specific point]?"
• "Would you consider [your proposal]?"

Asking Questions

Good negotiators ask questions to understand the other person’s needs. Try these:

• "Can you explain why this is important to you?"
• "What would work best for you?"
• "Are there any areas where you can be flexible?"

Agreeing or Disagreeing

During negotiations, you might agree or disagree with something. Here is how you can do it politely:

Agreeing:

• "I think that’s a fair suggestion."
• "We’re happy with those terms."
• "That sounds good to us."

Disagreeing:

• "I see your point, but we need to make some adjustments."
• "I’m afraid that won’t work for us."
• "Can we look at another option?"

Disagreeing politely keeps the conversation positive and professional.

Closing the Deal

When you are ready to end the negotiation and make a final agreement, you can use these phrases:

• "I think we’ve reached a good solution."
• "Let’s confirm the details."
• "We’re happy to move forward with this."

These expressions show that you are ready to finalize the deal.

Power Phrases for Your Next Negotiation

Starting Strong

The phrase "bottom line" comes from accounting, where the final profit number appears at the bottom of financial statements.

Today, people use it to ask about the lowest price someone will accept.

For example:

"Let's discuss the bottom line for this project."
In emails: "Could you share your bottom line pricing?"

Finding Common Ground

When both companies want to benefit, they often talk about creating a "win-win situation."

This phrase means everyone walks away happy. Think of it like sharing a pizza – if you both get your favorite toppings on different halves, that's win-win!

In business:

"We could order more units if you give us a discount – that way, you sell more, and we save money. It's win-win!"

Smart Compromises

Sometimes, neither side gets exactly what they want. That's when "meeting halfway" becomes useful.

This phrase comes from the old idea of friends walking from different places and meeting in the middle.

Real-world example:

Original price: $10,000
Your budget: $8,000
Meeting halfway: "Could we meet halfway at $9,000?"

Making Estimates

"Ball park figure" comes from baseball, where guessing if a ball would land inside the park (a "park" here means a playing field).

It means giving a rough estimate. It's a very useful phrase when you can't give exact numbers yet:

"I'll need a ball park figure for the project budget by Monday."

Setting Boundaries

A "deal breaker" tells others what you absolutely cannot accept. It's like a red line that can't be crossed.

"Daily progress updates are a deal breaker for us – we must know what's happening with the project."

If Things Get Difficult

Stay calm and try these:

• "Let's take a short break."
• "Maybe we could look at this from another angle."
• "What would make this work for you?"

If You Need More Time

Good phrases to use:

• "I'll need to discuss this with my team."
• "Could I get back to you tomorrow?"
• "Let me review these numbers carefully."

Remember: These phrases are tools to help you, not rules you must follow. Start slowly, and you'll sound more professional each day!

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