backroom deal
Hidden political arrangement
A backroom deal is an agreement reached privately, away from public scrutiny or official proceedings.
The image is of negotiations happening in a back room while the public sees only the front.
The term carries connotations of secrecy and sometimes corruption—deals made by insiders who don't want their arrangements examined: The merger was a backroom deal between executives and board members.
- secretConcealed information
- behind closed doorsIn private, unobserved
- handshakeMutual palm-gripping gesture
- smoke-filledFull of combustion haze
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
bribe · quid pro quo · favor · insider · power broker · closed-door · shady · under the table · negotiation · kickback · collusion · old boys club · conspiracy · wheeling · hush · hush money · under wraps · lobby
- negotiationbargaining, bargain, negotiate, mediation, compromise
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- Dealmakingnegotiator, bargaining, offer, counteroffer, compromise
- criminal schemesconspiracy, collusion, racketeering, kickback scheme, assassination plot
- political dealsaccord, compromise, pact, treaty, bargaining
backroom dealopen forum
Unrestricted public discussion
public hearing · town hall meeting · open debate · sunshine law · open government
backroom dealdue process
Guaranteed judicial fairness
democratic process · parliamentary procedure · official channels · legislative process · rule of law
back, room, deal, backs, rooms, deals, backed, backing, roomed