give-and-take

American  

[giv-uhn-teyk] / ˈgɪv ənˈteɪk /

noun

1. the practice of dealing by compromise or mutual concession; cooperation.

2. good-natured exchange of talk, ideas, etc.

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give-and-take British  

noun

1. mutual concessions, shared benefits, and cooperation

2. a smoothly flowing exchange of ideas and talk

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verb

1. to make mutual concessions

give and take Idioms  

1. The practice of compromise, as in Every contract involves some give and take . This expression was first recorded in 1778, although the verbal idiom, to give and take , was used from the early 1500s.

2. Lively exchange of ideas or conversation, as in The legislature is famous for raucous give and take . [Second half of 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of give-and-take

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

The give-and-take over bringing state workers into the office is playing out as public agencies take different approaches to remote work since the pandemic.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

The European Union, with its cumbersome culture of consensus-building and give-and-take, was the most elaborate expression of that political way of life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

Left behind was a tremendous give-and-take on a tough U.S.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 1, 2024

In terms of your partnership with Director Park on this project, can you talk about the give-and-take in terms of each of your interpretations of “The Sympathizer”?

From Salon • May 27, 2024

But there was a difference between suppressing the publication of research findings and restricting the personal give-and-take among scientists that was indispensable for scientific progress.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• banter
• reciprocity