compromise

compromise
   to expose to embarrassment or danger
   Literally, to accept a lowering of standards. It describes involving in or revealing adultery, homosexuality, murder, etc.:
    He began to fiddle with his clothes... is he going to do it here, in public, to compromise me? (Bradbury, 1959)
    Lord Randolph [Churchill]... in order to cover for his brother who had compromised Lady Aylesford... appeared prepared to expose the Prince of Wales's adultery with her. (Graham Stewart, 1999)
    He was killed — and he was killed — because whatever that woman told him was so conclusive he had to be compromised hours later. (Ludlum, 1984)
    I'd learned from an unidentifiable source that Flight 306 to Bangkok was compromised. (Hall, 1988 — it was about to be blown up in mid-air)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • COMPROMISE — (Heb. פְּשָׁרָה, pesharah; apparently derived from the term pesher, solution, Eccles. 8:1), deciding a civil law dispute (dinei mamonot) by the court or an arbitral body, through the exercise of their discretion and not according to the laws… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • compromise — com·pro·mise 1 n: an agreement resolving differences by mutual concessions esp. to prevent or end a lawsuit compromise 2 vb mised, mis·ing vt: to resolve or dispose of by a compromise cases in which a dispute is compromised E. A. Farnsworth and W …   Law dictionary

  • Compromise — Com pro*mise, n. [F. compromis, fr. L. compromissum a mutual promise to abide by the decision of an arbiter, fr. compromittere to make such a promise; com + promittere to promise. See {Promise}.] 1. A mutual agreement to refer matters in dispute… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • compromise — [n] agreement, give and take accommodation, accord, adjustment, arrangement, bargain, compact, composition, concession, contract, copout*, covenant, deal, fifty fifty*, half and half, half measure, happy medium*, mean, middle course, middle… …   New thesaurus

  • compromise — [käm′prə mīz΄] n. [ME & OFr compromis < LL compromissum, a compromise, mutual promise < L compromissus, pp. of compromittere, to make a mutual promise to abide by an arbiter s decision < com , together + promittere, to PROMISE] 1. a… …   English World dictionary

  • Compromise — Com pro*mise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Compromised}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Compromising}.] [From {Compromise}, n.; cf. {Compromit}.] 1. To bind by mutual agreement; to agree. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Laban and himself were compromised That all the eanlings… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Compromise — Com pro*mise, v. i. 1. To agree; to accord. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. To make concession for conciliation and peace. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • compromise — (n.) early 15c., a joint promise to abide by an arbiter s decision, from M.Fr. compromis (13c.), from L. compromissus, pp. of compromittere to make a mutual promise (to abide by an arbiter s decision), from com together (see COM (Cf. com )) +… …   Etymology dictionary

  • compromise — ► NOUN 1) an agreement reached by each side making concessions. 2) an intermediate state between conflicting opinions, reached by mutual concession. ► VERB 1) settle a dispute by mutual concession. 2) expediently accept standards that are lower… …   English terms dictionary

  • compromise — ▪ I. compromise com‧pro‧mise 1 [ˈkɒmprəmaɪz ǁ ˈkɑːm ] noun [countable, uncountable] an agreement between two people or groups in which both sides agree to accept less than they first asked for and to give up something that they value: •… …   Financial and business terms

  • compromise — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ acceptable, fair, good, happy (esp. BrE), possible, pragmatic, reasonable, sensible, suitable ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

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