Handshake deal

Meaning

An agreement sealed by trust rather than paperwork.

Usage

Used to describe informal trust-based agreements.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Handshakes symbolizing mutual trust.

Used in business cultures since the 19th century.