- A favour, good, or service granted in return for something else; an exchange of things of roughly equal value. This for that.
Explanation
Origin
- Latin, meaning something for something.
- Historically used by apothecaries for substituting one drug for another of similar effect.
- Later adopted into legal and general language to mean a reciprocal exchange or mutual consideration, which is essential for a valid contract in many legal systems.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- A trade-off.
- A deal.
- Tit for tat.
- You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. (The principle behind it)
- An arrangement.
- What's in it for me/them? (Expressing the need for a quid pro quo)
Milder/Standard:
- An exchange.
- A reciprocal agreement/arrangement.
- Mutual consideration. (Legal/formal)
- Something in return.
Situational Appropriateness
- Used in formal (legal, political, business) and semi-formal contexts.
- Can be used informally but might sound slightly formal or technical.
- Often implies a deliberate, calculated exchange, sometimes carrying connotations of political maneuvering or even potentially unethical dealings if the exchange is improper.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Learners might not know the Latin phrase.
- Emphasize it means a specific *exchange* (this for that), not just any transaction.
- Be aware it can sometimes imply impropriety, especially in political contexts, although it can also describe perfectly normal, ethical exchanges.
Examples
- The negotiation involved a clear quid pro quo: funding in exchange for political support.
- He helped me move, so there was an unspoken quid pro quo that I'd help him next time.
- Is this offer genuine, or is there an expected quid pro quo?
Dialogue
Politician A: Why did Senator Smith suddenly vote in favour of our bill?
Aide: There was a quid pro quo, sir. We agreed to support funding for the new bridge in his district.
Politician A: Ah, I see. A necessary quid pro quo to get the votes we needed.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Apparent quid pro quo in the latest lobbying scandal. Donations followed by favourable legislation? #Politics #Ethics
- LinkedIn Post: Successful partnerships are built on a fair quid pro quo mutual value creation. #Business #Negotiation
- Comment: This influencer collab feels less like genuine enthusiasm and more like a blatant quid pro quo for free stuff.
Response Patterns
- Acknowledgment: Ah, a quid pro quo. / Okay, that makes sense.
- Inquiry: What was the exchange exactly? / What did they get in return?
- Evaluation: Seems like a fair quid pro quo. / That sounds like a questionable quid pro quo.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After identifying a quid pro quo:
- Discussing the specifics: What was traded for what?
- Evaluating the fairness or ethics of the exchange.
- In legal/political contexts, questioning its legality or propriety (bribery and illegal quid pro quo are related concepts).
Conversation Starter
- No. Describes the nature of an existing or proposed transaction or relationship.
Intonation
- Stress often falls evenly across quid, pro, and quo (KWID PROH KWOH).
- Can be spoken neutrally, analytically, or sometimes with a hint of suspicion or cynicism, depending on the context. It was a straightforward QUID PRO QUO.
Generation Differences
- Understood by most adults, particularly those familiar with business, law, politics, or news coverage of these areas.
Regional Variations
- Used across English-speaking regions.