“私了”常见的英文表达有 “settle a dispute privately” 或 “reach a private settlement”，这两个短语都准确传达了不通过正式法律程序，而是双方私下协商解决纠纷或问题的含义。
例如：
They decided to settle the dispute privately rather than going to court.（他们决定私了，而不是诉诸法庭。）
The two parties reached a private settlement over the compensation.（双方就赔偿问题达成了私了协议 。）