What does "I tell you what" mean to you?

[Little_Nemo]

New York/New England here. I’ve always heard the phrase used to mean “here’s my offer”. It usually carries the connotation of “I don’t really have to negotiate but I’ll make this offer just to settle things quickly or to make it sporting”.

eta: I’ll amend this to say that I have heard it used like seanchai described above: somebody saying “I tell you what I think…” or “I tell you what I’d do…” When used like that its meaning is literal - the speaker is now going to tell you what he thinks or would do.

[Kamino_Neko]

Canada - Newfoundland and Southern Ontario.

‘Here’s my proposition’ - or, more accurately, ‘here’s a compromise’.

[Martini_Enfield]

@Mangetout

Other end of England, and it means the same to me too. Often preceding a proposition that involves compromise, or maybe is (hoped by the speaker to be) a novel and satisfactory solution to something that is already in negotiation.

NZ/Australia here and this is the meaning I give “I’ll tell you what…” as well.

[Gary_T]

Preceding a statement, [I’ll] tell you what – with “I’ll” understood but NOT spoken – means “here’s my proposition.”

Following a statement, I [NOT I’ll]] tell you what means “indeed.”

[elfkin477]

@Slithy_Tove

What does “I tell you what?” convey in your native dialect?

You are about to offer a compromise or other concession.

“Sorry, we can’t go to McDonalds right now, but I’ll tell you what: if you do all your chores and behave in church, we’ll go on Sunday.”