Shake On It

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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• agnostic
• null and void
• supersede
• deal

• shake on it
• party
• give your word
• legally binding

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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If you want to be in business, you have to have a good handshake. When you meet someone, you shake hands. When you say hello to someone, you shake hands. And when you finish a deal, you shake on it.

When two parties come to an agreement and then shake hands, you can say they shook on it. The handshake means the deal is official. Though not as official as signing a contract, shaking on it is more official than just giving your word.

Jeff is an attorney sent by a rival company to buy Devan’s company. Their meeting today ends with a handshake. But what exactly did they shake on?

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Devan

Jeff

Mason

Devan:  Yeah, well, I’m really liking how this sounds. I really think that the idea of selling the company to Marni is sounding pretty good to me at this point.

Jeff:  Excellent, excellent. I’m glad that you’re glad.

Devan:  Yeah, well, thanks for coming in.

Jeff:  Let’s shake on it. Alright! Well, I’m glad all this is behind us. Things went a little more smoothly than I had anticipated.

Devan:  What do you mean “behind us”? The negotiations have only begun!

Jeff:  I believe we just shook on it.

Devan:  Shook on it?

Jeff:  Shook hands to make a formal agreement. Legally binding.

Devan:  You’re saying that because I just shook your hand now I’m legally bound to sell you my company? I thought we were just talking!

Jeff:  That is what I’m saying.

Devan:  I thought we were just shaking hands because you were about to leave, I wasn’t trying to shake hands to bind any contract with you. I think we need another opinion on this. Mason!

Jeff:  Where are you going to get that opinion?

Devan:  Mason?

Mason:  Yeah, boss! Oh, it’s you.

Devan:  So, we were just having a discussion about some terms and some agreements about some things, some legal things, and then he got up to leave and I shook his hand, and now he says I’m legally bound to do everything I said before the handshake because we shook on it.

Mason:  I mean, I don’t want to go this guy’s way, but you know, a

Devan:  You’re taking his side in this?

Mason:  I’m not taking his side, I’m taking the handshake’s side! I mean, that’s side-agnostic!

Devan:  Okay, well, what if I told you that I did this behind my back!

Mason:  Then it is null and void, man! Fingers crossed supersede handshake, totally invalidated.

Jeff:  Will not hold up in a court of law.

Mason:  Well, if you will reference Fingers Crossed v. Handshake I think you will clearly see who here is in the right.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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