an offer (one) can't refuse

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an offer (one) can't refuse

An offer in which the repercussions for refusing would be so great that to do so would be either be dangerous or ill-advised. It often implies the "offer" is a threat, but this is not always the case. The phrase was coined by Mario Puzo in his 1969 novel The Godfather, and popularized by the 1972 Francis Ford Coppola film adaptation of the same name. If he's not willing to agree to the contract, I might have to bring a few men over and make him an offer he can't refuse. The buyout deal was worth $9 billion to the company, so, really, it was an offer we couldn't refuse.
See also: offer, refuse

*offer one cannot refuse

Cliché a very attractive offer. (*Typically: give one ~; make ~; make one ~.) He made me an offer I could not refuse, so I sold him my car.
See also: cannot, offer, one, refuse
References in periodicals archive ?
How long before a Championship or even a Premier League side makes him an offer he can't refuse?
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However Gayle is settled in Newcastle, wants to prove he can score in the top flight and it would take an offer he can't refuse to force his move.
Yoshi Muto to join Newcastle for [pounds sterling]9.5million as Rafa Benitez strengthens attack; The Japanese striker was on Tyneside on Friday and agreed personal terms to leave Mainz
In a novel of 1969, which author made famous the line, 'I'll make him an offer he can't refuse'?
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Reese Shearsmith guest stars as Santa, someone is hoping for a kiss with Vic, and friend Beefy is made an offer he can't refuse.
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Meanwhile Stan returns from his court appearance with a fine and a curfew and makes Dean an offer he can't refuse.
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Previously revered racing tipsters like Tom Segal and Matt Williams will be handed their P45s and Brown will be made an offer he can't refuse to become the Post's main man (although making a bloke who knows the next day's racing results an offer he can't refuse will not be easy).
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GETTING A GRIP: Arnold Schwarzenegger grabs Robert De Niro by the lapels - and presumably makes him an offer he can't refuse WENN; STARS FOR A NIGHT: Sophia Loren and Kenny Rogers, Bono and Cher, Ozzy Osbourne and Whoopi Goldberg and Dolly Parton; DOUBLE TROUBLE: Angelina Jolie and Paris Hilton are joined by Godfather Marlon Brando
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Even if Birmingham make him an offer he can't refuse...
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Wait a minute though, is this really an offer he can't refuse?
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The other boy is Steven, who gets an offer he can't refuse (or doesn't want to) when Sam suggests bringing a girl into the mix.
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He may well soon get an offer he can't refuse for last season's top scorer Milan Baros, but at the moment Benitez can see a much more competitive front line than last season.
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Reece Shearsmith guest stars as Santa, Julie hopes for a kiss with Vic, and Beefy is made an offer he can't refuse. At times it's gloriously shambolic, and while some of the gags fall flat, it's hard not to revel in the sheer absurdity.
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Cruise plays Mitch McDeere, a young, ambitious lawyer with a promising future who is approached by a rival company and made an offer he can't refuse. However, everything changes when two fellow associates are murdered.
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