Vocabulary for Negotiation and Persuasion (C1 Level English)
Hello English learners! Today’s lesson will help you master the language of negotiation and persuasion — skills that are essential not only in business meetings, but also in everyday discussions, job interviews, and even family decisions (“Who’s doing the washing up tonight?”). Vocabulary for Negotiation and Persuasion
Let’s explore some advanced vocabulary and expressions you can use to make your point effectively, disagree politely, and reach an agreement confidently.
Useful verbs for negotiating
| Verb | Meaning | Example sentence |
| Bargain | to try to reach an agreement on price or terms | They spent hours bargaining over the final contract. |
| Compromise | to reach an agreement by giving up part of what you want | To settle the dispute, both sides had to compromise. |
| Concede | to accept or agree to something after denying it | John finally conceded that his plan wasn’t very viable. |
| Propose | to suggest an idea or plan officially | She proposed pushing the deadline back two weeks. |
| Counter | to respond to an argument or offer with another one | They countered our offer with a slightly higher price. |
| Persuade | to convince someone to do or believe something | He managed to persuade the client to sign the deal. |
Vocabulary for Negotiation and Persuasion
Persuasive phrases and expressions
| Phrase | Meaning | Example sentence |
| Let’s find some common ground | try to find shared ideas or goals | Let’s find some common ground before we move on. |
| From my perspective… | to express your point of view politely | This plan, from my perspective, may be more efficient. |
| Would you be willing to…? | polite way to suggest an action | Would you be willing to extend the deadline? |
| That’s a fair point, but… | polite disagreement | That’s a fair point, but we should also consider the risks. |
| Let’s meet halfway | agree to something in the middle | I can’t afford £100, but let’s meet halfway at £120. |
| I can see where you’re coming from | show empathy before disagreeing | I can see where you’re coming from, but we have to stay within budget. |
| If I were in your shoes… | express empathy by imagining yourself in someone’s position | If I were in your shoes, I’d probably feel the same way. |
| You have a strong argument, however… | acknowledge the other side before presenting your view Vocabulary for Negotiation and Persuasion | You have a strong argument, however, the evidence suggests otherwise. |
| Let’s look at it from another angle | to encourage people to consider a different perspective | Let’s look at it from another angle – we could delay the launch. |
| What if we tried…? | to make a gentle suggestion | What if we tried a different marketing strategy instead of cutting costs? |
| Have you considered that…? | to urge someone to think about a different prospect | Have you considered that doing this may save us time in the long run? |
| It might be worth… | to softly propose an idea or action | It might be worth rethinking our approach to pricing. |
| I take your point, but… | to politely recognise someone’s opinion before disagreeing | I take your point, but we need to focus on results rather than opinions. |
| To put it another way… | to rephrase your idea to make it clearer or more convincing | To put it another way, this isn’t just an expense — it’s an investment. |
| Let’s keep an open mind | to encourage flexibility and willingness to consider new ideas | Let’s keep an open mind before rejecting this proposal outright. |
Vocabulary for Negotiation and Persuasion
Idioms and collocations related to negotiation
| Expression | Meaning | Example sentence |
| Drive a hard bargain | be very good at negotiating; not easily persuaded | She always drives a hard bargain when buying property. |
| Play hardball | act tough and not give in easily | The company is playing hardball in these talks. |
| The ball is in your court | it’s your turn to make a decision or take action | I’ve made my offer – now the ball is in your court. |
| A win-win situation | a situation where both sides benefit | This partnership is a win-win situation for everyone. |
| Seal the deal | to finalise an agreement | They sealed the deal with a handshake. |
| Break down negotiations | fail to reach an agreement | Talks broke down after neither side would compromise. |
| Reach a stalemate / deadlock | reach a point where no progress is possible | The discussions reached a stalemate after hours of debate. |
| Make concessions | give up part of your demands to reach an agreement | Both sides made concessions to get the contract signed. |
| Strike a deal | successfully reach an agreement Vocabulary for Negotiation and Persuasion | They struck a deal after several rounds of negotiation. |
| Call the shots | be in control or have the authority to decide | In this company, it’s the finance director who calls the shots. |
| Gain the upper hand | get an advantage in a discussion or argument | The union gained the upper hand after public support increased. |
| Stand your ground | refuse to change your position or opinion | Despite pressure from the board, she stood her ground. |
| Back down | withdraw or accept defeat in a disagreement | He refused to back down even when others criticised him. |
| Hammer out an agreement | reach an agreement after long and difficult discussions | It took them two weeks to hammer out an agreement. |
| Lay one’s cards on the table | be honest and open about your intentions | Let’s lay our cards on the table and discuss this openly. |
Vocabulary for Negotiation and Persuasion
Discussion questions
- Have you ever had to negotiate something important in English — such as a job offer, rent, or a project deadline? How did it go?
- What strategies help you stay calm and persuasive when the other person disagrees with you?
- Do you prefer compromising or standing your ground? Why?
- Can you think of a win-win situation you’ve experienced recently? What made it successful?
- How do you usually react when someone plays hardball during a discussion?
- What phrases or tactics do you use to soften disagreement without sounding rude?
- In your culture, do people tend to speak directly or use polite, indirect language when negotiating? Which do you find more effective?
- Imagine you’re negotiating your salary. What persuasive expressions from today’s lesson would you use?
- When was the last time you managed to seal the deal on something — even a small agreement?
- Do you think empathy or logic is more powerful in persuasion? Explain your choice.
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