offer one can't refuse
English
Etymology
Unknown. A famous example is found in the film The Godfather (1972).
Pronunciation
Audio (AU) (file)
Noun
offer one can't refuse (plural offers one can't refuse)
- (idiomatic) An offer from one side in a transaction with terms so attractive that the other side is almost guaranteed to accept.
- 2006 February 5, Michael D. Lemonick, “Are We Losing Our Edge?”, in Time:
- But in 2001 the government of Singapore made him an offer he couldn't refuse: the directorship of the brand new Genome Institute along with a $25 million starting budget.
- (idiomatic) A threatening offer by one party for which the results of failing to accept are so unattractive that the other party is almost compelled to accept.
- 1991 September 22, Edward Rothstein, “Film: Hard Up for a Plot? Get With the Program”, in New York Times, retrieved 29 July 2012:
- The Mafia godfather Rocco . . . makes Jack an offer he can't refuse: marry Carol or else.
Synonyms
- (attractive offer):
- (threat): extortion
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