English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions 

AGREEMENTS and ARRANGEMENTS

Idioms relating to agreements  
from:  'in black and white'   to: 'with one voice'

• in black and white
  • To say that something is in black and white means that there is written proof of it.
    "It's an obligation. It's written in black and white in your contract."
    
    
• 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."
    
    
• a dealbreaker
  • Something that is important enough to prevent agreement being reached is called a dealbreaker.
    "We liked the house and the area, but the small garden was a dealbreaker for us."
    
    
• a done deal
  • This expression is used to refer to an agreement or decision which has been reached on a certain matter.
    "We're still considering several proposals, so it's not a done deal yet."
    
    
• a shady deal
  • A suspicious, dishonest or illegal arrangement or transaction is known as a shady deal.
    "The two sons were always involved in their father's shady deals."
    
    
• a square deal
  • A fair and honest transaction, agreement or arrangement is called a square deal.
    "We always get a square deal with that supplier."
    
    
• it's/that's a deal/you've got a deal
  • When you’ve reached agreement with someone you can say it's a deal, that's a deal or you've got a deal!
    "What if I offered you 80$ for both of them?" "You've got a deal!"
    
    
• a deal with the devil
  • A risky arrangement with a person of bad reputation is called a deal with the devil.
    "Jack ran up so much debt that he made a deal with the devil."
    
    
• a package deal
  • An offer of a lower price if several items are bought together is called a package deal.
    "We got a package deal including accommodation and a travel pass."
    
    
• seal the deal
  • When you seal the deal you reach a final agreement and make it official.
    "The two parties are meeting tomorrow to seal the deal."
    
    
• a sweetheart deal
  • A sweetheart deal refers to an advantageous agreement between a public body and a private individual or company.
    "The company's income tax arrangement has been denounced as a sweetheart deal."
    
    
• sweeten the deal
  • When someone makes an offer or arrangement more attractive by adding extra benefits, they are said to sweeten the deal.
    "They sweetened the deal by including a pension plan to get him to accept the job."
    
    
• a gentleman's agreement
  • When an agreement is neither written nor signed, because the two parties trust each other completely, it is called a gentleman's agreement.
    "It was a gentleman's agreement. I can't change my mind now!"
    
    
• a matter of form
  • If you do something out of politeness, or because it is accepted practice or the usual way of doing something, you do it as a matter of form.
    "I know we're in agreement, but I need your signature as a matter of form."
    
    
• 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."
    
    
• a square deal
  • A transaction that is fair and honest, or an equitable arrangement, is called a square deal.
    "We've used the same supplier for years and we always get a square deal."
    
    
• no strings attached
  • If something is offered or an arrangement made with no strings attached, it comes without any unwelcome conditions or restrictions. Nothing is expected in return.
    "Let me drive you home - no strings attached, I promise."
    
    
• with one voice
  • Two or more groups or organisations who are in complete agreement are said to speak with one voice.
    "For once the government and the trade unions are speaking with one voice."