meeting of the minds

meeting of the minds

English

Alternative forms

• meeting of minds

Noun

meeting of the minds (plural meetings of the minds)

1. (idiomatic) An agreement, especially one resulting from a gathering in which discussion or negotiation took place.
   • 1994 Jan. 10, Marguerite Michaels, "Borderline Breakthrough," Time:

     [E]xhausted negotiators pored over maps and drafts of a proposed agreement in smoke-filled Cairo hotel rooms, until the morning of the third day, when Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres proclaimed that the two sides had "reached a meeting of the minds."

   • 2011 Oct. 10, John Dobosz, "Dancing On The Ceiling Of The Trading Range," Forbes (retrieved 10 Dec 2012):

     [T]he market seems to believe that the leaders have had a meeting of the minds and won’t fail when the time comes to act.

   • 2012 June 4, Martin Fackler, "Japan Leader Changes Cabinet in Push for Tax Bill," New York Times (retrieved 10 Dec 2012):

     Mr. Noda met with Mr. Ozawa twice but the talks failed to yield a meeting of the minds.

Usage notes

• Used especially to indicate an agreement which is less formal, more preliminary, or less detailed than a full-fledged contract, compact, or pact.

Synonyms

• concord, understanding

See also

• like-minded

References

• meeting of the minds at OneLook Dictionary Search