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quid pro quo

quid pro quo

117 8.0
A swap of favors where each side gives something to get something
  • noun
  • /kwɪd proʊ kwoʊ/
translation icon : intercambio
  • She offered her help with the understanding that it was a quid pro quo for future assistance.
  • quid pro quo exchange
  • quid pro quo arrangement
  • quid pro quo demands

I mean, in these negotiations, the quid pro quo is sanctions relief for nuclear constraints.

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Examples

  • It's quid pro quo for helping them out.

  • Well, perhaps we could come to some kind of quid pro quo arrangement.

  • Perhaps we could discuss a little quid pro quo before I do.

  • We're not going to make a quid pro quo, he said.

  • Well, this comes with a quid pro quo.

  • Well, I can get you in, but it's gonna take a quid pro quo.

  • While there can be no quid pro quo on this issue, the United States can offer a private assurance.

  • The distinction between a lawful and illegal contribution, therefore, is the presence of a quid pro quo.

    Academic text (2016)
  • The hallmark of corruption is the financial quid pro quo dollars for political favors.

  • To Israelis, these ever-growing concessions with no quid pro quo reflect the depth of their desire for peace.

    Academic text (2010)

Synonyms

quid
vsquid pro quo
  • Archaic
71 9.4

Something you give in return for something else

is focused on exchanges made as part of an agreement or deal
reciprocity
vsquid pro quo
17 7.1

Giving and getting help or benefits so both sides gain

is the concrete exchange often used in specific deals or agreements
give and take
vsquid pro quo
12 3.1

A situation where people both accept and give up things to make an agreement

is narrower, applying to specific exchanged items in deals
good horsetrade
vsquid pro quo
7.1

A fair deal where both sides get something they want

is similar but stresses formal exchange within an agreement
countergift
vsquid pro quo
8.1

A gift given in return for another gift to show thanks

is about reciprocal deals rather than simple returned presents

How Reciprocal

quid pro quo
117 8.0
to swap
119 2.1
tit for tat
  • Informal
12 5.8

Surface Forms

quid pro quo singular
quid pro quos plural

Morphology

quid + pro + quo

This is a Latin loan phrase whose parts ('quid' and 'quo') are not productive English words for a B1 learner and whose literal pieces and word order do not transparently compose the meaning. Even if a learner knows 'pro' as 'for', the overall exchange meaning ('something given in return') cannot be reliably derived without prior exposure, so the phrase is idiomatic and unpredictable.

Etymology

Quid pro quo comes from Latin and its parts quid 'what', pro 'for', and quo 'which' give the clear image 'something for something'. So today quid pro quo means an exchange where one thing is given in return for another.