Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to hash out a deal

to hash out a deal

4.9
To discuss the details of an agreement until both sides agree
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : negociar un acuerdo
  • They are currently hashing out a deal to merge their businesses.

Examples

  • It took the diplomats all night to hash out a deal that satisfied both parties.

  • The two companies were finally able to hash out a deal after several rounds of negotiation.

  • Let's hash out a deal before the deadline!

  • They need to hash out a deal soon.

  • The negotiators met for hours to hash out a deal that would benefit both parties.

  • After several meetings, they finally managed to hash out a deal to improve the trade agreement.

  • The team members spent the afternoon hashing out a deal to finalize their project collaboration.

Synonyms

to negotiate
vsto hash out a deal
  • Formal
801 3.7

Try to reach an agreement by talking, often about business terms

is less formal in tone and emphasizes detailed back-and-forth discussion
to cut a deal
vsto hash out a deal
  • Informal
94 3.5

Make an agreement after talking, often in business or politics

focuses more on the detailed process of working through those terms
to reach an agreement
vsto hash out a deal
35 3.0

Decide together after talking about the terms

is about the detailed discussion process used to bring about that decision
to hammer out
vsto hash out a deal
23 4.2

To talk about something in detail until people reach an agreement

is similar but less about force and more about full detail work
to seal the deal
vsto hash out a deal
  • Informal
22 4.0

Make an agreement official by accepting its final terms

refers to the prior detailed discussions needed to reach that final step
to strike a deal
vsto hash out a deal
20 3.4

To agree with someone after talking about the details

describes the detailed talking phase that leads up to that outcome
to thrash out
vsto hash out a deal
  • Informal
2 5.3

To discuss a problem carefully to reach a solution or agreement

focuses specifically on working through details to finish negotiations
to hash the details
vsto hash out a deal
  • Informal
1 6.5

To talk about the exact parts of a plan to reach an agreement

is the broader phrase for detailed discussion that ends in a decision
to hash over
vsto hash out a deal
  • Informal
1 6.0

Talk about something again in detail

aims to complete the full discussion rather than just review points
to thrash out a compromise
vsto hash out a deal
5.7

Talk about things fully to reach an agreement when people disagree

is broader, applying to detailed discussion even before strong disagreement

How Thoroughly

to close
∞ 1.0
to hash out a deal
  • Informal
4.9
to negotiate
  • Formal
801 3.7

Surface Forms

hash out a deal infinitive
hashed out a deal past
hashed out a deal past participle
hashing out a deal present participle
hashes out a deal third person singular

Morphology

hash + out + a + deal

The meaning 'to discuss the details of an agreement thoroughly' relies on a metaphorical extension of 'hash' (not its literal food sense) combined with the particle 'out' to signal thoroughness; this relation is not directly inferable by a B1 learner who only knows the basic senses of the constituents. Comparable verbs (e.g. 'hammer out', 'work out') show a productive metaphorical pattern, so the expression is partially transparent but still requires prior exposure to the phrasal verb.

Etymology

Hash out a deal comes from the word hash, a simple dish made by chopping and mixing food. To hash out a problem is like chopping it into small parts and mixing them until it fits, so it means to talk through the details until you reach 'a final decision'.