Meaning & use
mates rates
Last updated
Meaning
phrasepluralinformal
A lower price that someone charges a friend or acquaintance as a favor.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun phrase: 'He gave me mates rates.' It often follows verbs like give, get, or charge.
Patterns
- give someone mates rates
- get mates rates
- charge someone mates rates
- mates rates on something
The mechanic gave me mates rates on the repairs.
She got mates rates because she and the hairdresser went to school together.
Can you do mates rates on a new phone?
Common combinations
- give someone mates rates
- The plumber gave us mates rates for fixing the leak.
- get mates rates
- If you know the owner, you might get mates rates.
- mates rates on something
- They offered mates rates on the wedding photos.
- ask for mates rates
- He felt awkward asking for mates rates.
Synonyms and how they differ
- discount
- Discount is the general, neutral word for any price reduction; mates rates specifically suggests the lower price is a personal favor for a friend.
- special price
- Special price is neutral and can apply to anyone, while mates rates always hints at a personal relationship.
Opposites
Word family
- mate noun
- A friend, especially in British, Australian, and New Zealand English.
Commonly confused: mates rates or flat rate?
mates rates vs flat rate
A flat rate is a single fixed price for everyone; mates rates is a reduced price given as a personal favor.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'mates rates' most naturally?
Choose one answer.
Mates rates fits a personal favor between friends, as in the baker selling to a friend. It does not describe prices for all guests, official government prices, or standard printed prices.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mates rates”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.