bargain for
B2-C1Informal to neutral. Common in spoken language and journalistic writing.
Definition
Meaning
To expect or anticipate something, often something difficult or troublesome, as part of a deal or situation.
Used to indicate that something that has happened is unexpected, more significant, or more difficult than was originally anticipated or planned for.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always used in passive-like constructions ('bargain for') or with auxiliaries. Often found in negative forms ('didn't bargain for'), comparative forms ('more than they bargained for'), or questions. It implies a miscalculation of the consequences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in meaning and structure. No significant differences.
Connotations
Equally idiomatic in both varieties. Slightly more common in UK media, but widely used in the US.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + [Auxiliary] + bargain for + [Noun Phrase][Subject] + [Verb] + more than + [Subject] + bargained forVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get more than you bargained for”
- “a bit more than I bargained for”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe unexpected market reactions, costs, or competitor actions.
Academic
Rare in formal academic prose, but appears in social sciences discussing unintended consequences.
Everyday
Common for discussing personal situations that turned out worse/bigger than expected.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They hadn't bargained for such a dreadful downpour during the cricket match.
- When she took the job, she didn't bargain for the sheer volume of admin.
American English
- He hadn't bargained for the car needing so many expensive repairs.
- We didn't bargain for the project taking three full years.
adjective
British English
- There is no 'bargain-for' price for such a unique antique.
American English
- The bargain-for rate was only available for a limited time.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The trip was fun, but the rain was more than I bargained for.
- He didn't bargain for his little brother wanting to come too.
- The political candidate quickly realised she had got more than she bargained for with the hostile media scrutiny.
- When they adopted the puppy, they hadn't bargained for its destructive chewing phase.
- The prosecution, in their zeal for a conviction, had bargained for a fierce and meticulously prepared defence.
- The policy's architects failed to bargain for the perverse incentives it would create in the marketplace.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine agreeing on a price (a bargain) for a small, quiet dog, but you arrive home to find a huge, barking one. You got 'more than you bargained FOR'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A BUSINESS DEAL (where one can miscalculate the terms).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'торговаться за' which means 'to haggle for'. The idiom is about expectation, not negotiation.
- The Russian equivalent is often something like 'рассчитывать на', but with a negative or surprised connotation.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in an active sense without an auxiliary (e.g., 'I bargain for trouble' is incorrect). Correct: 'I didn't bargain for trouble.'
- Confusing it with 'bargain on', which is a synonym but less common.
Practice
Quiz
What is the core meaning of 'bargain for' as used in the sentence: 'The interview was tougher than he'd bargained for'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. It is almost always used to indicate an unexpected negative or excessive outcome (e.g., more trouble, work, cost). A positive surprise would use a different phrase like 'hoped for' or 'dreamed of'.
They are synonyms and often interchangeable. 'Bargain for' is slightly more common, especially in the UK. 'Bargain on' can sometimes imply a slightly stronger sense of reliance or planning ('I was bargaining on his help').
It is neutral but leans informal. It is perfectly acceptable in newspapers, magazines, and everyday speech but might be replaced by 'anticipate' or 'foresee' in very formal legal or academic documents.
It requires an auxiliary verb (like 'had', 'have', 'didn't') and is followed by a noun or noun phrase. The most common patterns are: 'didn't bargain for [something]' and 'got more than [pronoun] bargained for'.