a handsome offer

USAGE SUMMARY

'a handsome offer' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an attractive, desirable offer. For example: "The company made us a handsome offer, so we decided to accept it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Not long ago, he refused a handsome offer from a big agribusiness outfit to buy the company.

The New York Times - Food

By Frances Warfield The New Yorker, July 16, 1932 P. 33 A handsome offer from Cash's Woven Names (For Marking All Linen & Underwear) has given the author a lot to think about.

The New Yorker

Not wanting to return home empty-handed, Quackenbush made them a handsome offer.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

About 7 45, ICM tells New Line executives it has a very handsome offer from Columbia that Black is inclined to take unless they can reassure its client's concerns about the "Cutthroat" glitch.

Los Angeles Times

Time Warner fought off the advances of Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox two and a half years ago, but on Oct. 22, agreed to AT&T's more handsome offer of $107.50 a share.

Los Angeles Times

The handsome offer was for a temporary moratorium.

The Guardian - Opinion

They could take a handsome cash offer from The Blackstone Group, a private-equity giant that valued the company at nearly $39 billion (including debt), far more than anyone had thought it could fetch a few months ago.

The Economist

ITV's shareholders have been so desperate for a suitor to come and sweep them off their feet with a handsome cash offer, that even an outright denial of interest from Bertelsmann-owned RTL Group has made their hearts surge.

Forbes

Lockyer considered their handsome offer seriously.

Independent

WAS NOT HIGHEST BIDDER Another 'Handsome' Offer Refused for the Welfare of Paper -- No Radical Changes Planned.

The New York Times

According to Goldberg, many New Yorkers declined his handsome offer and even those who agreed to it tended to pause for a moment to stare bemusedly at the money in their hand, apparently wondering how to feel about the exchange that had just taken place.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a handsome offer" to describe proposals that are significantly beneficial or financially rewarding. It suggests that the offer is not just acceptable, but genuinely attractive and worth considering seriously.

Common error

Avoid using "a handsome offer" in situations where you want to convey a purely objective or neutral valuation. The term implies a degree of subjective attractiveness and might not be suitable in contexts requiring impartiality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a handsome offer" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb (e.g., receive, make, refuse). It describes a proposal or proposition that is particularly attractive or generous. As confirmed by Ludwig, it’s a correct and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

17%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a handsome offer" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe a notably attractive or generous proposal. As indicated by Ludwig, it's well-suited for contexts where you want to emphasize the significant benefits of an offer. While found primarily in news and media, this phrase is appropriate for professional communications too. Remember to use it when the offer is subjectively appealing and avoid it in purely objective valuations. Consider using alternatives like "an attractive proposal" or "a generous proposition" to vary your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an attractive proposal

Replaces "handsome" with "attractive", emphasizing the pleasing or appealing nature of the offer.

a generous proposition

Substitutes "offer" with "proposition" and "handsome" with "generous", highlighting the favorable or abundant nature of the offer.

a lucrative deal

Replaces "offer" with "deal" and "handsome" with "lucrative", focusing on the profitable aspect.

a tempting opportunity

Changes "offer" to "opportunity" and "handsome" to "tempting", suggesting the offer is enticing and hard to refuse.

a substantial bid

Replaces "offer" with "bid" and "handsome" with "substantial", emphasizing the significant amount or value.

a valuable suggestion

Substitutes "offer" with "suggestion" and "handsome" with "valuable", shifting the focus to the worth or importance of the advice.

a competitive tender

Replaces "offer" with "tender" and "handsome" with "competitive", indicating the offer is favorable compared to others.

a premium option

Changes "offer" to "option" and "handsome" to "premium", implying the offer is of high quality or exclusive.

a favorable agreement

Substitutes "offer" with "agreement" and "handsome" with "favorable", emphasizing the beneficial or advantageous nature of the arrangement.

a noteworthy incentive

Replaces "offer" with "incentive" and "handsome" with "noteworthy", highlighting the important or remarkable aspect of the encouragement.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "a handsome offer"?

You can use alternatives like "an attractive proposal", "a generous proposition", or "a lucrative deal" depending on the context.

Is "a handsome offer" only used for financial matters?

While often used in financial or business contexts to describe profitable deals, "a handsome offer" can also describe any proposal that is significantly beneficial or advantageous. The key is the attractiveness of the offer.

What does "handsome" mean in "a handsome offer"?

In this context, "handsome" doesn't refer to physical appearance. Instead, it means considerable, generous, or substantial. It emphasizes that the offer is notably attractive or beneficial.

Can I use "a beautiful offer" instead of "a handsome offer"?

While "beautiful" can sometimes describe something pleasing, "handsome" is the more conventional and idiomatic choice for describing an offer. "Beautiful" might sound unusual or metaphorical in this context.