a gentleman's agreement

gentleman's agreement

A legally non-binding arrangement that is guaranteed only by a verbal or mutually understood agreement by the parties involved. Though my father left me his entire estate in his will, I made a gentleman's agreement with my brother to share the wealth equally between us.
See also: agreement
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a gentleman's agreement

or

a gentlemen's agreement

A gentleman's agreement or a gentlemen's agreement is an informal agreement that is not written down but in which people trust one another to do what they have promised. We had no contract; it was done by a gentleman's agreement. I'm hoping we can come to a gentlemen's agreement, Colonel.
See also: agreement
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a gentleman's agreement

an arrangement or understanding which is based on the trust of both or all parties, rather than being legally binding.
1991 Charles Anderson Grain: Entrepreneurs There had been a ‘gentleman's agreement’ by the Grain Growers not to enter the markets of Saskatchewan Wheat Pool's predecessor.
See also: agreement
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a ˌgentleman’s aˈgreement

(also a ˌgentlemen’s aˈgreement) an agreement, a contract, etc. in which nothing is written down because both people trust each other not to break it: ‘Why don’t you tell him you don’t want to sell it now?’ ‘I can’t possibly. It was a gentleman’s agreement and I must keep to it.’
See also: agreement
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • gentleman's agreement
  • gentleman's pact
  • bargain over (someone or something) (with someone)
  • differ
  • disagree
  • agree to differ
  • agree to disagree
  • get along
  • afire
  • in the closet
References in periodicals archive
The European Parliament will insist on quickly making the deal reached between the European Union and Britainon divorce terms legally binding, worried London may not honour a gentleman's agreement, the parliament's chief Brexit coordinator said.
Make gentleman's agreement with Britain binding -- EU lawmakers
There is a gentleman's agreement that in the big glamour friendlies, which attract huge crowds and generate income for the clubs, we should receive the SPL going rate.
Football: PARMA RAMMY; EXCLUSIVE ANOTHER RECORD SPORT Referees' fury at Celtic over big-match fee
Drucker's managing director David Scott said: "This is something we have done for a few years as a gentleman's agreement, but this year we found we didn't have the capacity to produce 4,500 mince pies."
Concert cake treat cancelled
''We are not aware that a gentleman's agreement has existed,'' the top government spokesman told a press conference at the premier's office.
LEAD: Chinese envoy repeats call on Koizumi to stop shrine visits
"I thought we made a gentleman's agreement when I accepted a four-year package in 1998.
Football: JOACHIM'S PARTING SHOT AT GREGORY
In that campaign, England bid despite a gentleman's agreement they had with UEFA countries not to stand against Germany.
Football: England's World Cup; EASTER ROAD STARS MADE TO SWEAT BY JOHN
"I don't want to keep going back on this but it makes me sad how English people talk about a gentleman's agreement and don't carry it out."
Football: CHEAT ROW OVER 2006