The companies balked, preferring not to get mixed up in an international squabble.

The company balked at the teamsters' demand to make 10,000 part-time jobs full-time.

But the companies balked at having to pay once that money ran out.

If one company balked at giving promotions and raises, another company would.

Some companies balked at the sales pitch, unwilling to become involved with a company sitting under a black cloud.

Many companies balked at moving into a building whose future seemed so uncertain.

Offered a new contract last year, the company balked after large losses.

When that board ruled in favor of the workers and the companies still balked, Cardenas acted.

Other companies, too, have toyed with the idea of buying a music company and balked.

Yet a main reason investment banks can command such high fees is that companies rarely balk at paying them.