Deal-making Maven Gifts

Now what's this about the Bibcock deal hitting a snag?

"And need I remind you, the 'art of the deal' is the lifeblood of this company."

"Marshall, somewhere out there, just waiting for us, is a loophole in the system."

'When we get there let me do the double talking.'

"That's Paul, he's our head of partnerships..."

'We're making progress. I just got a firm 'maybe'.'

"Wild-caught, farm-raised, lab-grown, beach-found, or aquarium-harvested."

'Don't worry about it. If at first we don't succeed, we can do it later and get paid time-and-a-half for it.'

'Kroft, Kroft, Kroft...to thine own demographic be true!'

"May I skip the usual Show & Tell and try to hustle some merch?"

'Better brace yourself. It looks as though your broker's now equipping your monthly statement with crumple zones.'

"It's been unanimously decided that we don't like this table. Could you show us another model?"

'A hostile takeover just wasn't feasible, so we agreed to a hostile merger.'

...and if the Chairman rings, find out who he is.

'No hostile takeover bids beyond this point.'

"Can you believe those guys? We tell them absolutely, positively no further negotiations, and they stop negotiating!"

'It was accidentally reversed one day and our profits immediately skyrocketed.'

"I'm tired of this cave. I want a condo!"

"I've got something in what used to be a decrepit, run-down, unfashionable area."

'First of all, let's make one thing clear: greed is good.'

'I hear they bought out Winken, Blinken and Nod.'

"The Oaths of the Venture Capitalists."

"That metallic grinding means her throwout bearings are shot. She's backfiring through her carburetor. The tick indicates transmission trouble, and the smoke means she's on fire."

Business News: Economic Growth Indicators are Up, Led By Car Repairs, Divorce Costs, Open Heart Surgeries and Toxic Waste Cleanups.

"I'd prefer a win-win solution – but I'm open to just a win."

"Remember, negotiating is like buying fruit. You don't know what you'll get until you squeeze 'em a bit."

'The trick is to be gentle yet firm in negotiations. I prefer soft money and hard liquor.'

'We have to be more innovative but not in an out-of-the-box way.'

"The landlord has promised to sort out the damp problems."

'I've added this up six times and still can't get it to balance!'

Couple wanting to buy the estate agents office.

"It sounds good so far, are there any strings attached?"

Sensitivity Reader