leverage
Debt-fueled investment strategy
Leverage is a noun that denotes the action of or the advantage gained by using a lever.
By extension, it can mean power or effectiveness, as in political leverage.
In the mid-20th century, speakers started using leverage as a verb meaning use for gain or exploit: The company is acting aggressively to leverage this new technology for better customer service.
Many people consider this usage to be business jargon.
Lever's balance point
- pulleyGrooved wheel for rope
- hoistRaise with tackle
- winchDrum-and-cable lifting mechanism
- jackDevice for lifting vehicles
crane · pry · torque · pivot · crowbar · ratchet · cantilever · wedge
Boundary or sharpness
- footholdStable position for advancement
- positionLocation or stance
- strongpointArea of greatest competence
- assetItem of value owned
power-play · vantage · influence · sway · clout · muscle · pull · weight
Notable act or abuse
- capitalizeMake a letter large
- utilizePut to practical purpose
- harnessStraps controlling an animal
- maximizeIncrease to greatest extent
deploy · optimize · amplify · parlay · monetize · synergize · scale · mobilize
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- concessionYielding a point
- pressureForce upon contact
- strongarmCompel by intimidation
- hardballUncompromising competitive tactics
walkaway · BATNA · dealmaking · terms · tradeoff · stalemate · counteroffer · holdout
fulcrum
Lever's balance point
jack · crane · pry · torque · pivot · crowbar · ratchet · cantilever · wedge · incline
edge
Boundary or sharpness
- footholdStable position for advancement
- positionLocation or stance
- strongpointArea of greatest competence
asset · power-play · vantage · influence · sway · clout · muscle · pull · weight
exploit
Notable act or abuse
- capitalizeMake a letter large
- utilizePut to practical purpose
- harnessStraps controlling an animal
maximize · deploy · optimize · amplify · parlay · monetize · synergize · scale · mobilize · activate
bargaining
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- concessionYielding a point
- pressureForce upon contact
- strongarmCompel by intimidation
hardball · walkaway · BATNA · dealmaking · terms · tradeoff · stalemate · counteroffer · holdout · ultimatum
debt
Money owed another
borrowing · gearing · LBO · buyout · collateral · loans · ratio · financing · risk · exposure
- balanceequilibrium, balancing, harmony, stability, symmetry
- Negotiation Termsdeadlock, bargaining, negotiation, stalemate, compromise
- negotiationsbargaining, offer, counteroffer, counter offer, compromise
- power metaphorsiron fist, iron grip, reins, puppet master, pulling strings
- investingstocks, stock, bonds, investing, investor
- coercionduress, coercing, compelling, threat, forcing
leveragepowerlessness
Inability to affect outcomes
weakness · helplessness · impotence · disadvantage · vulnerability
leverageequity
Impartial treatment or ownership value
unleveraged · debt-free · cash position · deleveraging · unencumbered
- high leverage
- leveraged buyoutDebt-funded corporate acquisition
- financial leverageDebt-to-equity ratio strategy
- leveraged buy-outDebt-financed corporate acquisition
- economic leverageMonetary power over others
- diplomatic leverageAdvantage in statecraft negotiations
leveraged, leverages, leveraging, deleverage, overleveraged, deleveraging, overleverage, unleveraged, overleveraging