done deal

English

Pronunciation

  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Noun

done deal (plural done deals)

  1. (idiomatic) An agreement that has been finally resolved or decided.
    Synonym: done dotta (rare, slang)
    It's a done deal — he already sold me the prize wine bottle from his collection, and I already popped the cork.
    • 2018 April 28, Dorian Lynskey, quoting James McGrory, “‘It’s not a done deal’: inside the battle to stop Brexit”, in The Guardian‎[1]:
      “You get a win and suddenly the crowd’s on your side again. It was a shot in the arm for two reasons. First, when we work together, we are stronger. Second, this isn’t a done deal.”
  2. (idiomatic) An established fact that cannot be undone.
    Near-synonyms: fait accompli, water under the bridge
    They're telling us that climate change is a done deal — that now we're into mitigation and adaptation instead of prevention.

Usage notes

  • Often celebratory, indicating a finality after an arduous process (“at last!”). Contrast with fait accompli, which often suggests suddenness or abruptness.

Anagrams

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