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Meaning & use

pocket deal

noun·Advanced

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UK/ˈpɒkɪt diːl/
US/ˈpɑːkɪt diːl/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A secret agreement, especially one made for private gain or to avoid public scrutiny.

    Grammar: Countable; use 'a pocket deal' or 'pocket deals'.

    Patterns

    • a pocket deal between someone and someone
    • make a pocket deal

    Investigators uncovered a pocket deal between the mayor and a construction company.

    The two executives were accused of making a pocket deal to hide the losses.

    Critics say the contract was awarded through a pocket deal rather than open bidding.

  2. nouncountableinformal

    A small, easily completed business agreement, often used in informal business talk.

    Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural 'pocket deals'.

    Patterns

    • a quick pocket deal
    • close a pocket deal

    We closed a pocket deal with a local supplier to test the market.

    He likes to keep a few pocket deals going on the side.

Word forms

pluralpocket deals

Common combinations

make a pocket deal
They made a pocket deal without telling the board.
secret pocket deal
The secret pocket deal was exposed by a journalist.
pocket deal between
There was a pocket deal between the two firms.
accused of a pocket deal
The minister was accused of a pocket deal with a donor.

Synonyms and how they differ

backroom deal
Similar but stresses that it was made privately by insiders rather than kept in someone's pocket.
sweetheart deal
Focuses on the deal being unfairly favorable to one side, not necessarily secret.
under-the-table deal
Emphasizes illegality or hidden payment; a pocket deal can be merely secret.

Opposites

open dealpublic agreement

Word family

pocket adjective
Small enough to carry in a pocket, as in 'pocket dictionary'.
deal noun
An agreement or arrangement, especially in business.

Commonly confused: pocket deal or package deal?

pocket deal vs package deal

A package deal is a set of things offered together at one price, not a secret agreement.

Practice

The newspaper reported that the contract was awarded through a ______ between the minister and a wealthy donor.

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