ENGLISH
REFERENCE

reason with

idiom
Meaning

To convince (someone) to do (or not do) something using rational arguments; to get (someone) to view something rationally.


Examples
SIMPLE

It is hard to reason with him when he is angry.

CONTEXTUAL

She tried to reason with her brother, explaining that spending all his savings on a car was a bad idea.

COMPLEX

Despite her best efforts to reason with the board members, they remained committed to the original, flawed strategy regardless of the mounting evidence against it.

Anchors to
Related idioms4entries
  1. 01

    13th reason why

    Alternative form of thirteenth reason why.

  2. 02

    rhyme or reason

    Logic; common sense.

  3. 03

    stand to reason

    To seem logical, rational, or reasonable; to make sense.

  4. 04

    thirteenth reason why

    Synonym of thirteenth reason.

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