re-offer
C1formal, business, legal, corporate
Definition
Meaning
to present or propose something again, especially after a previous offer has been declined, lapsed, or withdrawn
1) to submit a previously unsuccessful bid or proposal again, often with modifications; 2) in finance, to issue securities again that were previously offered but not fully subscribed; 3) to make a job position available again after a candidate has rejected it or the search was paused
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a repetition of an offer that was not accepted initially; carries a nuance of persistence, second chance, or revised opportunity. Often used in transactional, contractual, or employment contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term similarly. Slight preference in UK English for hyphenation (re-offer) vs. potential solid form (reoffer) in US, though both forms appear in both regions.
Connotations
Neutral to slightly formal. In UK contexts, may be more frequently used in public sector or institutional tender processes. In US, common in corporate finance and recruitment.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in both. More common in written professional contexts than in everyday speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] re-offered [NP] to [NP][NP] will re-offer [NP] following [NP][NP] is re-offered [NP] after [NP]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “back on the table”
- “second bite at the apple”
- “another shot”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board decided to re-offer the merger terms with minor concessions to the minority shareholders.
Academic
After the initial proposal was rejected, the researcher was invited to re-offer a revised study design.
Everyday
The estate agent said the sellers might re-offer the house in the spring if it doesn't sell now.
Technical
The underwriters had to re-offer the bond issue at a more attractive yield to clear the inventory.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council will re-offer the tender next quarter.
- They re-offered him the promotion after the first candidate declined.
American English
- The company plans to reoffer the stock at a lower price.
- We reoffered the job to the runner-up candidate.
adjective
British English
- The re-offer clause in the contract was activated.
- A re-offer period of ten days was granted.
American English
- The reoffer price was more competitive.
- They discussed the reoffer strategy for the bonds.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The shop re-offered the discount to loyal customers.
- He was happy when they re-offered him the same price.
- After negotiations stalled, the buyer decided to re-offer their original bid.
- The university may re-offer the scholarship if the selected student does not enrol.
- The legislation allows the government to re-offer the concession to the next highest bidder should the winner default.
- Following the market volatility, the syndicate chose to re-offer the notes with enhanced covenants.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE + OFFER. Just like 'replay' means play again, 're-offer' means offer again.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN OFFER IS AN OBJECT PRESENTED; TO RE-OFFER IS TO REPRESENT THAT OBJECT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'предлагать заново' in all contexts; in formal/business settings, 'повторно выставить' or 'повторно предложить' is more precise. Do not confuse with 'предложить обратно' which implies offering something back.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'reoffer' without hyphen in formal writing where style guides prefer hyphenation. Using it transitively without an object (*'They decided to re-offer.'). Confusing it with 'counter-offer', which is a response to another offer.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 're-offer' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 're-offer' is presenting the same or a slightly modified offer again. A 'counter-offer' is a new offer made in response to another offer.
In formal writing, especially British English, hyphenation (re-offer) is common to avoid ambiguity. Some American style guides accept the solid form 'reoffer'. Check your specific style guide.
Rarely. It is almost always a transitive verb requiring a direct object (e.g., re-offer the job, re-offer the shares).
The act itself can be called a 're-offer'. The more formal noun is 're-offering' (e.g., 'the re-offering of the bonds').