English idioms - negotiation

Above board	If business negotiations are described as above board, they are open, honest and legal. "There are no secret negotiations. Our dealings have always been above board."
Have an ace up your sleeve.	If you have an ace up your sleeve, it means that you have something in reserve with which you can gain an advantage.
Hold all the aces	A person or company who holds all the aces is in a very strong position because they have more advantages than anyone else. "With low production costs and excellent transport facilities, they seem to be holding all the aces."
Have your back to the wall	If you have your back to the wall, you are in serious difficulty. "With his back to the wall, the supplier had to accept the deal."
Back to square one	To say that someone is back to square one, means that they have not succeeded in what they were trying to do, and so they have to start again. "When they refused the terms of the contract, it was back to square one for the negotiators."
Beggars can't be choosers.	This expression means that you should not reject an offer if it is the only possibility you have. You have no choice. "Beggars can't be choosers"!
Bend over backwards	If you bend over backwards, you try very hard to do something, especially to please somebody. "The director bent over backwards to try and persuade them to accept our proposal."
Bide your time	If you bide your time, you wait for a good opportunity to do something. "He's not hesitating, he's just biding his time. He's waiting for the price to drop."
A blank cheque	If you give someone a blank cheque, you authorize them to do what they think is best in a difficult situation. "Tom was given a blank cheque and told to negotiate the best deal possible."
Bone of contention	A bone of contention is a matter or subject about which there is a lot of disagreement. "The salaries have been agreed on, but opening on Sundays remains a bone of contention."
Bring nothing to the table	If you participate in negotiations and bring nothing to the table, you have nothing of interest to offer the other side. "We'll never reach an agreement if we don't all bring something to the table."
Clinch a deal	In a business relationship, if you clinch a deal, you reach agreement on a proposal or offer. "Tom's final argument enabled us to clinch the deal."
Drive a hard bargain	A person who drives a hard bargain always makes sure they gain advantage in a business deal. "Be prepared for tough negotiations with Stuart - he drives a bard bargain."
Keep someone posted	If a person asks you to keep them posted, they want you to keep them informed about a situation "Our agent promised to keep us posted on developments in the negotiations."
Leave the door open	If you leave the door open, you behave in such a way as to allow the possibility of further action. "Both parties left the door open for further negotiations."
Leave no stone unturned	If you try everything possible in order to achieve something something, you leave no stone unturned. "The management left no stone unturned in their efforts to reach an agreement."
Meet someone half-way	If you meet someone half way, you accept to make a compromise and give them part of what they are trying to obtain. "We can't agree to all your conditions but we could perhaps agree to meet half-way."
Nitty-gritty	When people get down to the nitty-gritty, they begin to discuss the most important points or the practical details. "I was interested in the project, but we didn't get down to the nitty-gritty until his partner arrived."
No dice!	If someone asks you for something and you reply "no dice" you mean that it is impossible or it can't be done. "Can you lend me your car?" "Sorry, no dice."
Play your cards right.	This means that you do all that is necessary in order to succeed or to obtain what you want.
Play for time	If you play for time, you try to delay or prevent something from happening in order to gain an advantage. "He decided to play for time in the hope that the price would decrease."
Prepare the ground	To prepare the ground means that you try to make it easier for a future event or action to happen or be accepted.
Sign on the dotted line	If you sign on the dotted line, you formally give your consent to something by signing an official document. "I consulted my lawyer before signing on the dotted line."
Signed, sealed and delivered	When an agreement, contract or treaty is signed, sealed and delivered, all the legal documents have been signed. "It is hoped that the agreement will be signed, sealed and delivered before the end of the week."
Skating on thin ice	If you are skating on thin ice, you are doing or saying something that could cause disagreement or trouble. "Don't mention that subject during the negotiations or you could be skating on thin ice."
Take stock of a situation	If you take stock of a situation, you assess all the aspects in order to form an opinion. "He took time to take stock of the situation before making a suggestion."
Turn on/up the heat	If you turn on/up the heat on a person or organization, you put pressure on them in order to obtain what you want. "If the goods are not delivered this week, we'll have to turn on the heat."