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.
the practice of dealing by compromise or mutual concession; cooperation.
good-natured exchange of talk, ideas, etc.
mutual concessions, shared benefits, and cooperation
a smoothly flowing exchange of ideas and talk
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.
Lively exchange of ideas or conversation, as in The legislature is famous for raucous give and take . [Second half of 1800s]
First recorded in 1760–70
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Whatever the reason, it’s a shame that one of the couple’s final collaborative works — a very sweet and realistic tale of give-and-take — is all but missing from the documentary about their relationship.
From Salon • Oct. 18, 2025
Chatbots aren’t equivalent to the give-and-take of traditional therapy, but Wright thinks they could help with less severe mental and emotional problems.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 23, 2024
“But that’s what negotiation is about. It’s a give-and-take process — not a process where one side comes in and just gets everything that’s on their list.”
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 13, 2023
If you are not used to that sort of give-and-take, New York ATC can be very, very intimidating.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
