Joy English · Level C1 · Persuasion and argumentjoy-english.com

Persuasion and negotiation

Name:Date:

Learn phrases such as concede a point, play devil's advocate, drive a hard bargain and meet halfway for debates, meetings and negotiations.

Choose the best option

Choose the word or phrase that completes each sentence.

He ___ that the costs were higher than expected, but argued that the benefits outweighed them.
- a) conceded
- b) rebutted
- c) swayed
- d) clinched
Her argument was so ___ that even the sceptics were persuaded.
- a) tentative
- b) flimsy
- c) cogent
- d) evasive
I'll play ___ for a moment: what if the sample was simply too small?
- a) the referee
- b) devil's advocate
- c) second fiddle
- d) the fool
If someone drives a hard bargain, they ...
- a) agree to every request quickly
- b) negotiate firmly so the other side struggles to get a good deal
- c) avoid discussing money
- d) refuse to attend meetings
After hours of talks, both sides agreed to ___ and split the difference.
- a) stand firm
- b) dig in
- c) hold out
- d) meet halfway
The original proposal was so ___ by amendments that little of its ambition remained.
- a) clinched
- b) swayed
- c) watered down
- d) conceded
The two groups disagree on most issues but have found some ___ on safety.
- a) common ground
- b) cold feet
- c) a tall order
- d) fair game
What does it mean to take criticism on board?
- a) to ignore it politely
- b) to accept and think seriously about it
- c) to repeat it to other people
- d) to reply to it angrily

Type the word that completes each sentence. Use each word once: advocate, bargain, clinch, concede, ground, halfway, rebut, sway.

The consultant managed to ___ the deal just before the deadline.
Several well-known experts tried to ___ the claim, but none produced any evidence.
A single emotional story can ___ public opinion more than a page of statistics.
Don't let them intimidate you; stand your ___.
I'm willing to ___ that your approach is cheaper, but it isn't more reliable.
Kofi plays devil's ___ in meetings, which forces us to test our assumptions.
Our supplier drives a hard ___, so we rarely win a discount.
We can't both get everything we want, so let's meet ___.

a) concededConceded means admitted. He admits the costs are high, then argues that the benefits matter more.
c) cogentCogent means clear, logical and convincing, which explains why sceptics were persuaded.
b) devil's advocateTo play devil's advocate is to argue against an idea in order to test it.
b) negotiate firmly so the other side struggles to get a good dealDriving a hard bargain means negotiating very firmly in your own interest.
d) meet halfwayMeet halfway means compromise, which matches splitting the difference.
c) watered downWatered down means made weaker or less forceful.
a) common groundCommon ground means views or interests that both sides share.
b) to accept and think seriously about itTaking something on board means accepting it and giving it serious thought.

clinch / close / seal / secureClinch a deal means succeed in finally agreeing it.
rebut / refute / counter / dispute / challenge / disproveRebut means argue that a claim is false.
sway / influence / shapeSway means influence someone's opinion.
groundStand your ground means refuse to change your position.
concede / admit / accept / acknowledge / grantConcede means admit that part of an argument is correct.
advocateThe idiom is play devil's advocate.
bargainDrive a hard bargain means negotiate very firmly.
halfway / half wayMeet halfway means compromise.