give-and-take

American  

[giv-uhn-teyk] / ˈgɪv ənˈteɪk /

noun

1. the practice of dealing by compromise or mutual concession; cooperation.

2. good-natured exchange of talk, ideas, etc.

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give-and-take British  

noun

1. mutual concessions, shared benefits, and cooperation

2. a smoothly flowing exchange of ideas and talk

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verb

1. to make mutual concessions

give and take Idioms  

1. The practice of compromise, as in Every contract involves some give and take . This expression was first recorded in 1778, although the verbal idiom, to give and take , was used from the early 1500s.

2. Lively exchange of ideas or conversation, as in The legislature is famous for raucous give and take . [Second half of 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of give-and-take

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

The European Union, with its cumbersome culture of consensus-building and give-and-take, was the most elaborate expression of that political way of life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

In terms of your partnership with Director Park on this project, can you talk about the give-and-take in terms of each of your interpretations of “The Sympathizer”?

From Salon • May 27, 2024

As if in a cipher made up of different versions of himself, there’s an endless give-and-take between Idris the teacher and Idris the performer and Idris the writer and Idris the nerdy heartsick hip-hop stan.

From Seattle Times • May 8, 2024

“The concept I had in my mind was people partnering in movement, like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, where there’s a give-and-take related to what you’re going to do.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2023

If you are not used to that sort of give-and-take, New York ATC can be very, very intimidating.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• banter
• reciprocity