bargain
B1Neutral (used in both formal and informal contexts)
Definition
Meaning
An agreement between parties settling what each shall give and take or perform and receive; a purchase or transaction involving a favourable price or advantageous terms.
Something acquired or offered at a price favourable to the buyer; a thing bought or offered for sale much more cheaply than is usual or expected. Also used in the verbal sense to negotiate the terms of a transaction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun has two primary senses: 1) a formal agreement (as in 'strike a bargain'), and 2) a favourable purchase (as in 'a real bargain'). The verb means to negotiate or haggle. The phrase 'into the bargain' means 'in addition'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major syntactic or semantic differences. The phrasal verb 'bargain for/on' (meaning 'expect') is used in both varieties. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly stronger association with haggling/market culture in BrE. The 'bargain basement/hunter' cliché is equally common.
Frequency
Comparatively high frequency in both varieties. The 'good deal' sense is more frequent in everyday consumer contexts than the 'formal agreement' sense.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
bargain with [someone] for [something]bargain [something] downbargain for/on [something] (idiomatic)bargain that...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “into the bargain”
- “drive a hard bargain”
- “more than someone bargained for”
- “a bargain basement price”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Formal sense: 'The two companies finally reached a bargain.' Informal sense: 'We bought the stock at a bargain price.'
Academic
Rare. May appear in economics or law discussing contractual agreements.
Everyday
Predominant. Used in shopping contexts: 'I found a bargain in the sales.'
Technical
Legal contexts for 'striking a bargain' as a binding agreement (though 'contract' is more precise).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They managed to bargain the price down by twenty pounds.
- I didn't bargain on it raining all day.
American English
- She bargained with the vendor for a better deal.
- We got more traffic to the website than we bargained for.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used; 'bargain' is not standard as an adverb. Use 'cheaply' or 'for a bargain price'.)
American English
- (Rarely used; 'bargain' is not standard as an adverb. Use 'cheaply' or 'for a bargain price'.)
adjective
British English
- She's a bargain hunter, always looking for the best deals.
- They sell bargain books in that section.
American English
- We found a bargain flight to Miami.
- The store has a bargain aisle with discounted goods.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I bought this bag. It was a bargain!
- She likes to look for bargains.
- We managed to get a bargain on our holiday package.
- He drove a hard bargain, so we got a good price.
- The peace treaty represented a fragile bargain between the warring factions.
- They hadn't bargained for such a negative public reaction to their plan.
- The legislation was the result of a complex political bargain, with compromises on all sides.
- Investors are scouring the market for bargain assets after the recent downturn.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BAR where people GAIN an agreement after haggling. A BAR-GAIN.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGREEMENT IS A COMMODITY (strike a bargain); A GOOD DEAL IS A TREASURE (find/hunt for a bargain).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'баржа' (barge).
- The Russian 'торговаться' is closer to the verb 'to bargain/haggle'.
- The noun 'сделка' covers both the agreement and good deal senses, but context is key.
- Avoid using 'бargain' for a simple 'discount' ('скидка'). A bargain implies the *entire item* is cheap.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'bargain' as a direct synonym for 'cheap' (adjective error: *'This shirt is very bargain.' Correct: 'This shirt is a bargain.' or '...is very cheap.').
- Confusing 'bargain for' (expect) with 'bargain with' (negotiate).
- Mispronouncing with a /dʒ/ sound: */ˈbɑːrdʒɪn/ instead of /ˈbɑːrɡən/.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The job was difficult and stressful into the bargain', what does 'into the bargain' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Its core meaning is 'an agreement'. The 'cheap purchase' sense is a specific, though very common, extension of that idea (an agreement on a good price).
'Bargain' emphasizes the favourable price or the act of negotiation. 'Deal' is broader, meaning any transaction or agreement. 'Offer' is a proposal that hasn't been accepted yet. A bargain is often the result of a good deal or a accepted offer.
Yes. It means 'to negotiate the terms and conditions of a transaction'. For example: 'Tourists often bargain with street vendors.' It is also used in the idiom 'bargain for/on' meaning 'expect'.
Originally, it referred to the basement floor of a department store where discounted items were sold. Now it's primarily an adjective meaning 'very cheap' or 'of low quality', e.g., 'bargain basement prices'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Shopping
A2 · 50 words · Vocabulary for buying and selling goods.
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