Quid Pro Quo
/ˌkwɪd proʊ ˈkwoʊ/noun
An exchange of goods, services, favors, or concessions for something of equivalent value.
Did you know?Quid pro quo began as a substitution phrase in Latin pharmacy and medicine, where one ingredient could stand in for another, before evolving into the idea of a reciprocal exchange.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
quid pro quo
“literally “what for what”; a substitution of one thing for another”
16th Century
English
quid pro quo
“an equivalent substitution, especially in medicine or recipes”
17th Century
English
quid pro quo
“a reciprocal exchange or something given in return”
Modern English
English
quid pro quo
“an exchange of favors or goods, often with the implication of mutual obligation”