negotiate out of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "negotiate out of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a settlement or agreement in which there is an attempt to resolve a dispute or disagreement. For example, "We were able to successfully negotiate out of the contract."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

John F. Kennedy's famous antimetabole about negotiation, for example — "Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate" — nicely preempted criticisms of a new administration's foreign policy.

The Washington Post

"Let us never negotiate out of fear.

The Guardian

The assistant general secretary, Matt Waddup, said: "We've been trying to negotiate out of redundancies.

The Guardian

Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.

The Guardian

One of them said, "The Madoff news is hilarious; hope you negotiate out of this mess as well as possible".

The New York Times

Kennedy came to office determined to undo the Cold War, famously proclaiming in his first moments as president, "Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Mental health professionals (and enlightened lawyers) encourage parents to negotiate out-of-court voluntary support arrangements.

The New York Times

Bondholders often work with companies to negotiate out-of-court debt restructurings that help the companies avoid bankruptcy.

The New York Times

And despite the group's conclusion, credit derivatives clearly do in practice sometimes gum things up when companies are trying to negotiate out-of-court restructurings.

The New York Times

The way forward for Birmingham City Council is to negotiate out-of-court settlements and to move swiftly.

BBC

Allowing a judge to second-guess the government's charges, Justice said, would "gravely damage" antitrust enforcement by making companies unwilling to negotiate out-of-court settlements.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "negotiate out of" when discussing the successful resolution of a dispute or the avoidance of an unwanted obligation through negotiation. For example, "The company managed to negotiate out of the unfavorable contract terms."

Common error

Avoid using "negotiate out of" when simply describing an avoidance tactic without actual negotiation. Negotiation implies a discussion and agreement, not just evasion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "negotiate out of" functions as a phrasal verb. It indicates the action of using negotiation to successfully avoid or escape a commitment, obligation, or difficult situation. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "negotiate out of" is a commonly used phrasal verb that describes the act of successfully avoiding or escaping an obligation or agreement through negotiation. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of this phrase. It is used neutrally to professionally depending on the context. Although widely seen in the "News & Media", and "Formal & Business" domains, it's important to remember, as noted in the writing guidance, that "negotiate out of" implies active discussion and mutual agreement, not simply avoidance. Related phrases such as "bargain oneself out of" and "arrange to avoid" provide alternative ways to express similar concepts with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bargain oneself out of

Emphasizes the act of bargaining as a means of escaping a commitment, adding a sense of personal agency.

arrange to avoid

Focuses on the arrangement made to circumvent something, highlighting the proactive effort to dodge an obligation.

come to terms to escape

Highlights the process of reaching a mutual agreement as a way to free oneself from something.

settle to evade

Implies reaching a settlement with the primary intention of evading a responsibility or issue.

resolve to withdraw from

Focuses on the resolution as a method of withdrawing, emphasizing the decisive act of stepping away.

work towards an exit from

Suggests effort and planning directed toward leaving a situation, underlining the gradual process.

mediate a release from

Indicates using mediation to secure a release, pointing to a third-party intervention for resolution.

arbitrate a departure from

Implies an official arbitration process to facilitate a departure, adding a layer of formality.

find a way to back out of

Focuses on the discovery of methods to retract a commitment, underscoring the search for loopholes.

maneuver to get free from

Highlights skillful maneuvering as a way to achieve freedom from an obligation, emphasizing tactical movement.

FAQs

How can I use "negotiate out of" in a sentence?

You can use "negotiate out of" when you want to express successfully resolving a dispute or avoiding an unwanted obligation through discussion, for example: "They tried to "negotiate out of" the deal but failed".

What can I say instead of "negotiate out of"?

Alternatives to "negotiate out of" include phrases like "bargain oneself out of", "arrange to avoid", or "settle to evade depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "negotiate out of" in formal writing?

Yes, "negotiate out of" is suitable for formal writing, particularly when discussing business deals, legal agreements, or political resolutions. However, ensure the context aligns with the formal tone and complexity.

What's the difference between "negotiate out of" and "talk out of"?

"Negotiate out of" implies a formal discussion to reach an agreement to avoid something, while "talk out of" means persuading someone not to do something. Negotiation involves mutual concession, while talking someone out of something relies on persuasion.