offer
Related to offer: Invitation to treat
an offer (one) can't refuse
An offer in which the repercussions for refusing would be so great that to do so would be either be dangerous or ill-advised. It often implies the "offer" is a threat, but this is not always the case. The phrase was coined by Mario Puzo in his 1969 novel The Godfather, and popularized by the 1972 Francis Ford Coppola film adaptation of the same name. If he's not willing to agree to the contract, I might have to bring a few men over and make him an offer he can't refuse. The buyout deal was worth $9 billion to the company, so, really, it was an offer we couldn't refuse.
See also: offer, refuse
give chapter and verse
To provide full, specific, and authoritative information to support some quote, question, or issue at hand. Can also be used with similar verbs such as "offer," "cite," quote," etc. It is a reference to quoting Scripture. Don't try to debate Sarah about physics. She'll give chapter and verse until you realize she's right. You can't be so vague if you want to convince me. You'll have to give chapter and verse.
See also: and, chapter, give, verse
have (something) to offer
To have a trait or skill that is appealing, desirable, or helpful to others. She has a lot of experience to offer, and I wouldn't discount that when you look at all the candidates for the job.
See also: have, offer
hold out an olive branch (to someone)
To extend an offer or gesture of peace, reconciliation, truce, etc. (to someone), so as to end a disagreement or dispute. The conservatives in Congress seem to be holding out an olive branch to Democrats on the issue of raising the debt ceiling. If you find yourself in a spat with a friend, try to be the bigger person and be the one to hold out an olive branch.
See also: branch, hold, olive, out
hold out an/the olive branch
To extend an offer or gesture of peace, reconciliation, truce, etc., so as to end a disagreement or dispute. If you find yourself in a spat with a friend, try to be the bigger person and be the one to hold out the olive branch. I was still hurt by the way my parents had lied to me, but I decided to hold out an olive branch by going home for Christmas.
See also: branch, hold, olive, out
make an offer
To present, proffer, or propose something (to someone), especially an amount of money. A noun or pronoun can be used between "make" and "an offer" to specify the person to whom the offer is being made. We know you're being sought after by several different firms, which is why we'd like you make an offer of a $200,000-per-year salary, which is much higher than any of our competitors are going to offer. A: "How much would you want for that Ford Mustang in your driveway?" B: "I wasn't planning on selling it, but make me an offer."
See also: make, offer
offer (someone) (one's) condolences
To extend a semi-formal declaration or expression of sympathy to someone who has experienced a recent pain, grief, or misfortune, especially the death of a relative or loved one. Tom, I just heard about your wife's passing and wanted to offer my most sincere condolences. We're calling over after lunch to offer condolences to the family. Jane wasn't able to make it to the funeral, but she wanted to offer you her condolences nonetheless.
See also: offer
offer (something) for (something)
To propose that something or some amount of money be given in exchange for something else. They only offered me $200 for my car! I'm offering this brand new scooter for your bike—that's a great deal for you!
See also: offer
offer affordance(s)
To provide the means for something to happen or take place. Of course, man-made systems of organization in any field inherently offer affordances for error and exploitation, as the human element can neither be escaped nor denied. While many see the increasing amount of technology as a detriment to children's minds, one cannot underestimate how it also offers affordance to their increased capacity to learn and access information.
See also: offer
offer an olive branch (to someone)
To extend an offer or gesture of peace, reconciliation, truce, etc. (to someone), so as to end a disagreement or dispute. (Can also be formulated as "offer someone an olive branch.") The conservatives in Congress seem to be offering an olive branch to Democrats on the issue of raising the debt ceiling. If you find yourself in a spat with a friend, try to be the bigger person and be the one to offer an olive branch. I was still hurt by the way my parents had lied to me, but I decided to offer them an olive branch at Christmas.
See also: branch, offer, olive
offer for (one) to (do something)
To suggest that one do something that would likely be beneficial or advantageous to one. I offered for her to move in with me so she wouldn't have to pay rent while she waited for her house to be repaired, but she said she wasn't ready for that just yet. Instead of letting him go outright, they offered for him to take a lower-paying position instead.
See also: offer
offer the olive branch (to someone)
To extend an offer or gesture of peace, reconciliation, truce, etc. (to someone), so as to end a disagreement or dispute. (Can also be formulated as "offer someone the olive branch.") The conservatives in Congress seem to be offering the olive branch to Democrats on the issue of raising the debt ceiling. If you find yourself in a spat with a friend, try to be the bigger person and be the one to offer the olive branch. I was still hurt by the way my parents had lied to me, but I decided to offer them the olive branch at Christmas.
See also: branch, offer, olive
offer to
1. To suggest or propose doing something on behalf of someone or for someone's benefit. Jim offered to cook dinner because I wasn't feeling very well. She offered to speak to the boss to clear the issue up.
2. To suggest or propose giving to someone as a gift, favor, payment, compensation, etc. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "offer" and "to." He offered $500 to me so that I wouldn't speak about the incident to the police or the media. I'm offering half my assets to my partner in exchange for full control over the intellectual property.
See also: offer
offer up
1. To give or present something beneficial (to someone). A noun or pronoun can be used between "offer" and "up." The restaurant offers up some of the best steaks money can buy. We're offering up exclusive deals to our VIP members this weekend at shops across the country.
2. To sacrifice someone or something (to someone or something else). A noun or pronoun can be used between "offer" and "up." The council of elders offered the young maiden up to their dark god as part of the blood ritual. The fact that you're expected to offer money up alongside your prayers makes me a bit dubious of that church.
3. To provide some piece of information (to someone). A noun or pronoun can be used between "offer" and "up." He has offered up an explanation for what happened. I'm not here to offer up any excuses.
See also: offer, up
on offer
1. Available, as for purchase or acquisition. We have a wide range of craft beers on offer, including some from our own in-house microbrewery. There's a car on offer down the road for only $2,000.
2. Offered at a discounted price for a certain, limited period of time. Primarily heard in UK, Ireland. This weekend only, we've got a huge range of appliance and electronics on offer. I saw in the paper that the grocery store has slow cookers on offer—maybe we should go pick one up.
See also: offer, on
under offer
Of a house or building, having an agreement in place for someone to buy the property. Primarily heard in UK. The famous marketplace is under offer, but the buyer wishes to remain anonymous for the time being. With more than a dozen properties under offer, we are becoming one of the most sought after industrial units in the whole of North London.
See also: offer
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
*a helping hand
Fig. help; physical help, especially with the hands. (*Typically: get ~; need ~; give someone ~; offer ~; offer someone ~.) When you feel like you need a helping hand making dinner, just let me know.
See also: hand, helping
make someone an offer
to offer someone an amount of money for something. (Usually an invitation.) Do you like it? Make me an offer.
See also: make, offer
*offer one cannot refuse
Cliché a very attractive offer. (*Typically: give one ~; make ~; make one ~.) He made me an offer I could not refuse, so I sold him my car.
See also: cannot, offer, one, refuse
offer something for something
to suggest a certain amount of money as a purchase price for something. I'll offer you ten bucks for that watch. They offered me very little for my car.
See also: offer
offer something to someone (as something)
to propose giving something to someone as a gift, peace offering, payment, etc. They offered us a bunch of flowers as a peace offering. As an apology, I offered a gift to the hostess.
See also: offer
offer something up (to someone or something)
to give something to someone or something as a mark of devotion, thanks, etc. We offered our gratitude up to the ruler. We offered up our gratitude to the queen.
See also: offer, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
dangle a carrot in front of someone
oroffer someone a carrot
COMMON If you dangle a carrot in front of someone or offer them a carrot, you try to persuade them to do something by offering them a reward. The team have dangled a $17 million carrot in front of the Italian to remain in North America. He is to offer the public a new carrot by reducing petrol prices. Note: The words carrot, dangle and offer are used in other structures and expressions with a similar meaning. Tax cuts may be offered as a carrot to voters ahead of the next election. The money's dangling there like a huge carrot, and you want to grab it. Note: The image here is of someone encouraging a donkey to move forward by holding a carrot in front of it.
See also: carrot, dangle, front, of, someone
hold out an olive branch
oroffer an olive branch
COMMON If you hold out an olive branch or offer an olive branch to someone, you say or do something to show that you want to end a disagreement with them. We are holding out an olive branch, inviting the landowners to talk to us. The authorities have offered an olive branch to the community. Note: You can say that someone accepts an olive branch if they accept the thing that has been said or done to end the disagreement. It would be some time before he would accept the olive branch offered to him. Note: You can use olive branch to mean an offer of peace or friendship. I think the olive branch will have to come from both sides. He invited the world to choose between the gun and the olive branch. Note: The story of the Flood in the Bible tells how Noah sent out first a raven, then a dove, to see if there was any sign of land. If they found some land, it would mean that God had forgiven man: `And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off; so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.' (Genesis 8:11)
See also: branch, hold, olive, out
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
hold out (or offer) an olive branch
offer a token of peace or goodwill.A branch of an olive tree is an emblem of peace. In the Bible, it was the token brought by a dove to Noah to indicate that God's anger was assuaged and that the flood had abated (Genesis 8:11).
See also: branch, hold, olive, out
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
a ˌhelping ˈhand
help: The new charity tries to offer a helping hand to young people who have become addicted to drugs. A helping hand would be very welcome at the moment.See also: hand, helping
have something to ˈoffer
have something available that somebody wants: Barcelona has a lot to offer its visitors in the way of entertainment. He’s a young man with a great deal to offer (= who is intelligent, has many skills, etc.).See also: have, offer, something
on ˈoffer
1 that can be bought, used, etc: The following is a list of courses currently on offer. Prizes worth more than $20 000 are on offer to the winner.
2 (especially British English) on sale at a lower price than normal for a short period of time: Italian coffee is on (special) offer this week.
See also: offer, on
under ˈoffer
(British English) if a house or building is under offer, somebody has agreed to buy it at a particular price: They’ve already sold two of their properties, and the third is currently under offer.See also: offer
hold out/offer an ˈolive branch (to somebody)
show that you want to make peace with somebody: After their argument, he was the first one to hold out an olive branch. OPPOSITE: throw down the gauntletThe olive branch is an ancient symbol of peace.See also: branch, hold, offer, olive, out
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
offer up
v.
To submit something as an offering, especially in worship or devotion: At the memorial, they offered prayers up for the victims. Let's offer up free meals during the holidays.
See also: offer, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- an offer (one) can't refuse
- offer one cannot refuse
- refuse
- you can't say fairer
- fairer
- (one') can't say fairer than that
- advise
- advise (one) about (something)
- advise about
- advised