23 Agreeing

A

B Coming to an agreement

Toby So the first thing on the agenda today is nailing down1 the plan for next month’s launch party.

Magda Well, what happened at the senior management meeting? Did our budget request go through2?

Toby Yes, it did. A couple of them didn’t want to agree to it at first, so I had to explain about the plans to invite local business leaders and other influential people. I had to leave before the end, but apparently they arrived at a unanimous decision and approved the budget. Kate Great. Well, Jon and I have already hammered out3 a deal with a venue just down the road. The boss at the Olive Bistro can give us a great price. Magda Shouldn’t it be somewhere a little more upmarket? Kate I don’t think you should rule it out4 until you see it. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but they have done a great job with the recent refurbishment. Toby We don’t have to settle on5 the venue right now. We just need to come to an agreement by the end of the week. Maybe a couple of us should go and have a look at the Olive Bistro tomorrow morning. Magda, can I count you in6? Magda Yes, OK. And what about entertainment? At the last meeting Nigel was very keen on having a DJ. Do we all want to go along with7 that?

1 making a decision about all the details of something 2 be approved by an official authority 3 reached an agreement after a long discussion 4 say no to something 5 agree on 6 include a person in a plan or activity (opposite: count someone out) 7 agree with someone’s idea or opinion

Agreeing after disagreeing

At first only Tania and I liked the blue design best, but we gradually won the others round¹. Ben wasn’t sure about joining the special project team at the beginning, but I managed to talk him round2 in the end. It took a while to persuade my line manager to send me on the business management course, but she gave in3 eventually! When we first moved to an open-plan office, I didn’t really like it. But I’ve come round to⁴ it now, as it has improved communication in the team. The Board have finally backed down⁵ over their proposals to restructure the department. The management had to bow to6 pressure from the unions and give the pay rise they promised. She wanted to work in London originally, but in the end she had to settle for⁷ the regional office. Two of the team had a big disagreement and weren’t talking to each other for a few days. Fortunately, they seem to have smoothed things over⁸ this morning.

1 persuaded (can also be win over) 2 persuade 3 agree after initially refusing 4 changed my opinion 5 admitted they were wrong and changed their minds 6 do something you don’t want to do (another way to say this is bend to) 7 agree to something which isn’t your first choice 8 made a problem less serious

Tip

If we persuade someone not to do something, we talk them out of something. He wanted to have a party while his parents were away, but I talked him out of it.

23.1

23.2

23.3

23.4

Match the beginning of each sentence with its ending.

1 The Marketing Director refused to go 2 Although it’s very unlikely that we’ll get the contract, I wouldn’t rule it 3 I’d like to settle 4 I really want to smooth things 5 The application for my credit card went 6 Lucy was very resistant at first, but we eventually managed to win her 7 After a very difficult meeting with the shareholders, the Board finally bowed 8 Dominic’s very good at talking people a) through last week, and it arrived in the post this morning. b) to pressure and agreed to increase the annual dividend. c) along with our suggestions about the new product design. d) round to his way of thinking. That’s why he’s such a good negotiator. e) on a date for the interviews as soon as possible. f) over with Roger, as we have to work together every day. g) out completely. h) over. Now she loves the idea!

Choose the correct particle to complete these sentences.

1 We’ve booked the venue and the caterers. Now we just need to nail down / up / round the rest of the details. 2 I’ve explained why we should update the website, but he just refuses to give up / in / back and let me do it. 3 We spent ages discussing the new logo, and we eventually came to / through / up against an agreement. 4 Can we settle on / for / down a paint colour for the walls first, and then start looking at furniture? 5 Polly agreed to / out / up the new schedule initially, but then realised that it didn’t give her enough time to finish her work. 6 Despite the fact that Mark was clearly in the wrong, he refused to back up / round / down and apologise. 7 We need some volunteers to help organise the charity fundraiser. Can we count you on / in / into?

Rewrite each sentence using a phrasal verb based on the word in brackets in an appropriate form.

1 After two weeks of strikes, the company finally changed their mind and increased the overtime rate. (give) 2 Our application for planning permission was approved without any problems, so we can start building next month. (go) 3 We’ve got a general agreement, but it will take some time to work out the details. (hammer) 4 Chris always just agrees with what the manager says. He never thinks for himself. (go) 5 It’s going to be difficult to finalise all the details of the training day until we’ve chosen a date. (nail) 6 Charlie said he didn’t like the new website design, but I think he’ll change his opinion about it when he sees the latest version. (come)

Answer these questions.

1 If someone says they’ll go along with you when you make a suggestion, do they mean a) they agree b) they have changed their mind c) they disagree with you? 2 If someone gives in too easily to their children, are they a) very strict b) easily persuaded c) always arguing with them? 3 If your boss rules out an idea you suggest, does that mean she a) wants to do it b) isn’t sure whether to do it c) definitely doesn’t want to do it? 4 If you hear on the news that a government is bowing to international pressure, does it mean a) they are keeping the same opinion b) they agree with other countries c) they are changing their mind? 5 If someone says they want to smooth things over after an argument, does it mean a) they don’t want to talk to you again b) they want to make a problem less serious c) they want to agree with you?