bargain

[bahr-guh n] /ˈbɑr gən/
noun
1.
an advantageous purchase, especially one acquired at less than the usual cost:
The sale offered bargains galore.
2.
an agreement between parties settling what each shall give and take or perform and receive in a transaction.
3.
such an agreement as affecting one of the parties:
a losing bargain.
4.
something acquired by bargaining.
5.
Informal. an agreeable person, especially one who causes no trouble or difficulty (usually used in negative constructions):
His boss is no bargain.
verb (used without object)
6.
to discuss the terms of a bargain; haggle; negotiate.
7.
to come to an agreement; make a bargain:
We bargained on a three-year term.
verb (used with object)
8.
to arrange by bargain; negotiate:
to bargain a new wage increase.
9.
to anticipate as likely to occur; expect (usually followed by a clause):
I'll bargain that he's going to give those company directors plenty of trouble.
Verb phrases
10.
bargain for, to anticipate or take into account:
The job turned out to be more than he had bargained for.
11.
bargain on, to expect or anticipate; count or rely on:
You can't bargain on what she'll do in this situation.
Idioms
12.
in / into the bargain, over and above what has been stipulated; moreover; besides:
The new housekeeper proved to be a fine cook in the bargain.
13.
strike a bargain, to make a bargain; agree to terms:
They were unable to strike a bargain because the owner's asking price was more than the prospective buyer could afford.
Origin
1300-50; (v.) Middle English bargaynen < Anglo-French, Old French bargai(g)ner, probably < Frankish *borganjan, extended form of Germanic *borgan (compare Old High German bor(a)gēn to look after, Middle High German, German borgen to lend, borrow); (noun) Middle English bargayn < Anglo-French, Old French bargai(g)ne, bargain, noun derivative of the v.; o > a in 1st syllable is unexplained
Related forms
bargainable, adjective
bargainer, noun
outbargain, verb (used with object)
prebargain, verb (used with object)
probargaining, adjective
unbargained, adjective
Synonyms
2. stipulation, arrangement, transaction. See agreement. 6. See trade. 7. contract, covenant.
Examples from the web for bargain
  • In markets and shops, the goods have price tags, or you can bargain.
  • Don't forget to bargain and don't be afraid to walk away if you think the price is too high.
  • The craving for cheap wines may be surging, but merely cheap is no bargain.
  • You've already heard about my cheap, bargain-bin finds.
  • Often these are works acquired at auction for a bargain price, owing to an original misidentification.
  • Cooper rejected a plea bargain that called for a sentence of four to seven years.
  • In any country powerful lobbies bargain and wrangle.
  • Really, that's a bargain compared with some space missions.
  • Drugmakers and retail chains offer meds at bargain prices.
  • But the country turned into a bargain destination for people with foreign currencies.
British Dictionary definitions for bargain

bargain

/ˈbɑːɡɪn/
noun
1.
an agreement or contract establishing what each party will give, receive, or perform in a transaction between them
2.
something acquired or received in such an agreement
3.
(US)
  1. something bought or offered at a low price: a bargain at an auction
  2. (as modifier): a bargain price
4.
into the bargain, (US) in the bargain, in excess of what has been stipulated; besides
5.
make a bargain, strike a bargain, to agree on terms
verb
6.
(intransitive) to negotiate the terms of an agreement, transaction, etc
7.
(transitive) to exchange, as in a bargain
8.
to arrive at (an agreement or settlement)
Derived Forms
bargainer, noun
bargaining, noun, adjective
Word Origin
C14: from Old French bargaigne, from bargaignier to trade, of Germanic origin; compare Medieval Latin barcāniāre to trade, Old English borgian to borrow
Word Origin and History for bargain
v.

late 14c., from Old French bargaignier (12c., Modern French barguigner) "to haggle over the price," perhaps from Frankish *borganjan "to lend" or some other Germanic source, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *borgan (cf. Old High German borgen; Old English borgian, source of borrow). Another suggestion is that the French word comes from Late Latin barca "a barge," because it "carries goods to and fro." There are difficulties with both suggestions. Related: Bargained; bargaining.

n.

mid-14c., "business transaction or agreement," also "that which is acquired by bargaining," from Old French bargaine, from bargaignier (see bargain (v.)). Meaning "article priced for special sale" is from 1899. A bargain basement (1899) originally was a basement floor in a store where bargains were displayed.

Slang definitions & phrases for bargain

bargain

Related Terms

no bargain


Idioms and Phrases with bargain

bargain

In addition to the idiom beginning with
bargain
also see: