In the British television programme Dragons' Den, Duncan Bannatyne became especially associated with the phrase “I’m out” during negotiations.
The phrase is used when a dragon decides not to pursue a pitch or withdraws from a possible deal. Bannatyne’s direct delivery helped turn the words into a recognisable part of the show’s vocabulary, and the expression became widely repeated in British popular culture.
“I’m out” is not a formal legal term and does not itself complete or cancel a business transaction. It is a television shorthand for a dragon’s decision at the negotiation stage. A deal discussed on screen can still be subject to due diligence, valuation checks and contracts after filming.
Other dragons have also used the phrase, so the fact concerns Bannatyne’s public association with it rather than exclusive ownership. The line’s impact came from repetition, timing and Bannatyne’s characteristically blunt presentation style.