Reader question:

What is “a sure deal breaker” as in this sentence: A lack of enthusiasm is a sure deal breaker, as nobody likes a grumpy volunteer.

My comments:

A deal breaker, literally, is someone who’s bad at deal making, i.e. negotiating for a deal (agreement).

A sure deal breaker?

That deal breaker is so bad that whatever deal is on the table, he is able to ruin it.

In our example, we’re not addressing a real person, of course. Instead, we’re talking about a lack of enthusiasm as an issue that serves as a sure deal breaker.

In our example, apparently, some kind of voluntary work is being discussed involving what kind of qualities is sought from applicants.

And a lack of enthusiasm on the part of any applicant is considered a sure deal breaker, in other words a no-no, something that will definitely NOT land you the job.

For example, you apply for volunteer work to collect litter left by inconsiderate tourists at one of the Great Wall sites. They like the fact that you’re interested in the rich history surrounding the Great Wall. They like the fact that you believe in environmentalism and keeping the Great Wall clean. They like the fact that you enjoy helping people. They’re about to hand you the job when you tell them that you actually hate life outdoors.

That last piece of information is considered “a sure deal breaker”. They will almost certainly stop considering giving you the job because, let’s face it, garbage collecting along the Great Wall is, basically, life outdoors.

They won’t give you the job because they don’t want to have a grumpy volunteer on their hand. You know, as they can imagine, the first day on the job, you start complaining about the wind on the mountains, mosquitoes, bugs and things like that.

Let’s face it, volunteer work is all about enthusiasm because you don’t get a paid a lot. It’s called volunteer work for a reason. You do it willingly, out of love and good will. It’s not something you do while complaining non-stop.

If you hate life outdoors, maybe colleting garbage along the Great Wall is not something for you.

That’s why a lack of enthusiasm is described as “a sure deal breaker”, something that surely ruins a negotiation, breaking any potential agreement.

All right, no more ado, here are media examples of deal breakers (or dealbreakers, deal-breakers), factors or issues that, if unresolved, would cause one party to withdraw or otherwise cause the whole negotiation to collapse:

1. In an interview with EURACTIV, Kok warned that Malaysia would adopt retaliatory measures to penalize European products if the ban goes ahead as planned. Furthermore, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will not sign a partnership agreement with the EU unless palm oil is allowed again.

Teresa Kok has been serving as a Minister of Primary Industries in Malaysia since July 2018. She spoke with EURACTIV’s Jorge Valero.

What exactly are you trying to achieve with this tour, given that the European Parliament is not expected to reject the new rules (delegated act) next week?

We can stop it by talking to different stakeholders. I met with some Council officials and I will visit Germany, Italy, the Vatican, and the UK. If one of these member states oppose or differ, we can stop it.

If the new rules enter into force, what will be your response?

I will discuss this with other ministries and agencies related to trade. We have to look at a long list of trade items with Europe.

We will also discuss with our Attorney General department what other actions we can take, especially if we want to launch a report to the World Trade Organization.

In addition, we are waiting to discuss with Indonesia too [the largest producer of palm oil in the world]. That country just held a national election, and is in the process of forming a new cabinet. We will wait and sit down with the new minister, to see what actions we can take with Indonesia.

Are all options on the table, including restrictive measures?

Yes.

...

ASEAN countries had other concerns and diverging interests that slowed down trade talks with the EU. Is palm oil really a deal-breaker?

It is palm oil. In January, I don’t mind telling you, there was a council of palm oil producer countries, founded by Malaysia and Indonesia. The secretariat wrote to Malaysian and Indonesian foreign ministers not to endorse the EU-ASEAN strategic partnership agreement. So the EU-ASEAN deal didn’t happen because of palm oil.

Are you saying that there won’t be strategic partnership between EU and ASEAN until the palm oil dispute is settled?

Yes.

- Malaysian minister: ‘Palm oil is a deal-breaker for EU-ASEAN trade relations’, Euractiv.com, June 21, 2019.

2. We all have those things that we just can’t stand if a significant other does that would be enough to end things.

Commonly called relationship deal breakers, we all have them whether we have thought about what they are or not.

Some people already know what they are and won't pursue someone if they have those traits that they don’t like, while others don’t flat out know what they consider to be their deal breakers yet.

Knowing your deal breakers can be really beneficial in the dating game, as it can help eliminate people who fall under those traits and it can help you find what you do like. Plus, your deal breakers may even be shaped by your experiences in past relationships.

So I asked people what their relationship deal breakers are, since they can be helpful in dating, and this is what they said:

Female, 23

Talking over me.

Female, 24

Cheating before, talking to other girls while we’re dating, and not being respectful of other women.

...

Male, 19

Smoke cigs and if they don’t treat waiters kindly.

Female, 20

If they don’t make me feel like I am important/prioritize me and if they get jealous/angry for stupid reasons.

- I Asked 33 People For Relationship Deal-Breakers, TheOdysseyOnline.com, by Gabriella Barcinas, June 26, 2019.

3. Fabio Lanzoni, better known simply as Fabio, hasn’t changed much in the last few decades. He maintains his iconic hunky physique, flowing blonde locks, and could easily still appear on the cover of a romance novel today. Aside from working out to keep those impressive muscles, Fabio recently shared a surprising secret to his youthful appearance at 62.

He doesn’t rely on any creams, serums, or supplements. Instead, the heartthrob revealed to People that he sleeps in a hyperbaric chamber and claimed it “reverses the aging process.” It’s definitely, uh, a bit unorthodox and sounds like he might have gotten the idea from a sci-fi movie. Fabio didn’t go into more details about how often he does this or if he’s shelled out the cash to own one (upwards of $20,000), but the medical device is typically used to treat decompression illness in scuba divers and other serious ailments.

Here’s how they work, according to the Mayo Clinic: “Air pressure is increased two to three times higher than normal air pressure. Under these conditions, your lungs can gather much more oxygen than would be possible breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure. When your blood carries this extra oxygen throughout your body, this helps fight bacteria and stimulate the release of substances called growth factors and stem cells, which promote healing.”

Although we can see how that might add up to some anti-aging magic, there is currently little scientific evidence to support such claims. But hey, who are we to argue with Fabio and his good looks?

Aside from his odd wellness insight, the man who’s graced the cover of over 1,000 love stories said he’s still hoping to find his own true romance. He admitted to making mistakes in a relationship he’s still trying to get over, “She wanted to settle down, and I was just too wild.” He wouldn’t say who the mystery woman was, just that she has moved on with a family of her own.

When it comes to a future Mrs. Fabio, he wants someone funny and not too obsessed with social media. Another dealbreaker: “She has to be able to be in the middle of nature. She can’t be afraid about bugs.” He apparently then struck a pose straight out of one of his cover shots, looked wistfully out into the horizon, and said, “You see, when you really love a person, it’s forever.”

- Fabio Shares His Bizarre Anti-Aging Secret and Says He’s Looking For Love at 62, Womansworld.com, August 20, 2021.

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About the author:

Zhang Xin is Trainer at chinadaily.com.cn. He has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.

（作者：張欣   編輯：丹妮）