0

Lucrative is defined as

adj. producing a great deal of profit.

In the context, the speaker is negotiating with the listener and asking for the best possible price for something, which he intends to buy. Is it correct to ask for the "most lucrative offer"?

7
  • Lucrative has a connotation of somewhat dodgy, and definitely not good for the seller. 'Best' would be better I think.
    – JDF
    Commented Apr 5, 2018 at 6:20
  • @Deonyi On the other hand, you would love to receive a "lucrative job offer", wouldn't you?
    – Anees Rao
    Commented Apr 5, 2018 at 6:32
  • "Lucrative" is not usually applied to a job offer; it usually refers to profit on a transaction.
    – Xanne
    Commented Apr 5, 2018 at 7:13
  • 1
    Lucrative for whom?
    – Mick
    Commented Apr 5, 2018 at 7:17
  • 2
    Just say "Please send me your best offer."
    – Robusto
    Commented Apr 5, 2018 at 7:17

1 Answer 1

3

"Lucrative" is something that happens later, after the transaction. You could make a deal, which could then go on to be lucrative for you, but at the time of the deal, that is in the future and thus unknown.

Looking back, we could say "That deal turned out to be very lucrative", but at the time of the deal it's not appropriate as it hasn't happened yet.

Lucrative also has a connotation that the seller is making a mistake in selling it, or in making the deal: if it's going to be "lucrative" then that suggests they should hang on to it rather than sell it.

In the present tense, ie at the time of the deal itself, a better word to use would be "most attractive", or more simply "best".

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .