side deals
Unofficial parallel agreements
Side deals are informal agreements made separately from an official or primary negotiation, often kept quiet from other parties involved.
They typically involve special terms, favors, or concessions not available to everyone: The merger fell apart when reporters uncovered side deals with executives.
The term carries connotations of secrecy and sometimes impropriety, suggesting arrangements that might not withstand scrutiny.
- backroomPrivate space for dealings
- smoke-filled roomSecret political negotiation venue
- handshakeMutual palm-gripping gesture
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- under the tableWithout official documentation
quid pro quo · sweetheart · favor · bribe · palm greasing · hush · secret · arrangement · negotiation · loophole · insider · corrupt · collusion · shady · wink · nod · wink wink · payoff
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- ethics violationsbribery, bribes, kickbacks, kickback, nepotism
- Handshake Dealsoral contracts
- back channelsback doors, intermediaries, go-betweens, middlemen, proxies