A phrase that made me pull my hair and grit my teeth was trying to understand the meaning of quid pro quo. I thought it was not not even an English word or proper use of formal English.
This is what I found out when I looked up the word in an Internet dictionary: Quid pro quo is a favor or advantage granted in return for something. For example: “The pardon was a quid pro quo for their help in releasing hostages.”
English speakers often use the term to mean “a favor for a favor”—you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours. Another similar meaning is a more or less equal exchange for substitutions of goods or services. Give and take, tit for tat, this for that. The phrase was borrowed from Latin which means “this for that”.
Next time you bump into this peculiar expression there’s no reason to get angry—you already know what it means. Lingua Franca is a quid pro quo for your continued comments and support of my daily blog posts. Thank you and Good Day.
Just to prevent confusion, Lingua Franca is not a quid pro quo. You are not asking for anything in return for the information. Quid Pro Quo is used in companies when talking about sexual and other forms of harassment. I’ll give you a promotion (Quid) if you go out with me on a date (Pro Quo).
Hi John:
The only thing I’m asking is for my readers to return day after day. Readers are the reason why I write and take pictures in Panama City. The readers are the soul of Lingua Franca.
Regards,
Omar.-
When I hear quid pro quo, I think politics. It’s a favored form of deal-making, and it doesn’t make one lick of difference which party you’re talking about. Often in Congress, it will boil down to “You vote for my bill, and I’ll vote for yours”. It’s not necessarily bad, but it can become bad pretty easily!
Morning Linda, I’m learning English every day. I see that the expression is used in both companies and politics. “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch my back”. Who said English was a boring language? I love it more each day.
Bye,
Omar.-