Quid pro quo
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Quid pro quo (Latin for "something for something", many times understood by English speakers as "what for what" or "tit for tat") is used to mean, in the English speaking world, a favor for a favor (in other linguistic contexts, such as Portuguese and French, it means a misunderstanding, a confusion - to take the this for a that and quid pro quo is quoted as do ut des, Latin for "I give, so that you give"). Quid pro quo is a legal term for the transaction of valued items or favours, in return for giving something of value. For a contract to be binding, it usually must involve consideration, that is, the exchange of something of quantifiable value, however, quid pro quo is widely used in the context of describing political favours, as given in apparent exchange for money. It is also widely known as a legally recognized type of sexual harassment in some countries.
For democratic public officials with special powers of government, favours given in quid pro quo constitute a breach of the public trust and a dishonest circumventing of the democratic process for special interests. In the context of political favors, quid pro quo, being secretive, may find widely varied avenues for how such transactions (believed quid pro quo) might take place. Among these are straight favours for cash transactions, political campaign contributions, third-party campaigns and related assistance, and favours for favours (quite common in government). The last, favours for favours, refers to officials of different capacities, each in league with special interests, similar or otherwise; exchanging favours, based on an estimated equality of their value.
Merriam-Webster, the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (Fourth Edition), and the New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy (Third Edition) all define the Latin expression "quid pro quo" to mean "something for something." Its definition is cited as an equal exchange or substitution of goods or services.
This phrase is famously used by Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in the 1991 movie, "The Silence of the Lambs"