bargain on
B2Informal to neutral; common in spoken and written English, especially in contexts involving planning, prediction, or reliance.
Definition
Meaning
To depend or count on something happening; to expect or anticipate something with confidence.
To base one's plans, hopes, or actions on a specific outcome or event occurring, often involving a degree of risk or assumption.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrasal verb implies an expectation that may or may not be fulfilled. Often used when the expected outcome fails, highlighting the error in assumption (e.g., 'I bargained on the train being on time, but it was delayed.').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is broadly similar. Slightly more frequent in British English, where 'bargain for' is also a common near-synonym meaning 'expect or anticipate', often in negative contexts (e.g., 'more than I bargained for').
Connotations
In both varieties, it often carries a connotation of a calculated expectation that may prove wrong. Slightly more idiomatic and less formal than 'depend on' or 'count on'.
Frequency
Moderately common in both varieties. In American English, 'count on' or 'bank on' might be marginally more frequent in everyday speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] bargain on [Noun Phrase/Gerund clause] (e.g., They bargained on his support.)[Subject] bargain on [Possessive] [Gerund] (e.g., We bargained on the weather improving.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “More than one bargained for (an unexpected or excessive amount of trouble/difficulty).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used when forecasting or project planning carries inherent risks ('The board bargained on a Q3 market recovery.').
Academic
Less common; used in informal academic writing or speech regarding hypotheses or expected results.
Everyday
Common for discussing plans, weather, transport, or other people's actions ('I'm bargaining on you to bring the dessert.').
Technical
Rare; more formal alternatives like 'predicate' or 'base calculations on' are preferred.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We hadn't bargained on the roadworks adding an hour to our journey.
- He's bargaining on getting a promotion this year.
American English
- They really bargained on voter turnout being much higher.
- Don't bargain on the funding coming through before Friday.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I bargained on sunny weather for the picnic.
- She didn't bargain on the shop being closed.
- The government had bargained on a swift economic recovery, but the crisis deepened.
- When you make such plans, you're bargaining on everyone's cooperation.
- The prosecution's case bargained heavily on the defendant's confession, which was later retracted.
- Investors had been naively bargaining on perpetually low interest rates.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HAGGLER at a market ('bargain') relying ON a certain price. You are the 'haggler' with your plans, relying ON an outcome.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A GAMBLE/INVESTMENT (you 'stake' your plans on an expected future event).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'торговаться' (to haggle). The phrasal verb 'bargain on' is unrelated to shopping negotiations. It translates closer to 'рассчитывать на', 'полагаться на'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'bargain about/for' with the same meaning (incorrect). 'Bargain for' is only idiomatic in set phrases like 'more than I bargained for'.
- Incorrect tense: 'I bargain on it' (present simple) is rare; continuous or past forms are more common ('I'm bargaining on', 'I bargained on').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best captures the meaning of 'bargain on'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's neutral to informal. In formal writing, prefer 'depend on', 'count on', 'anticipate', or 'predicate on'.
'Bargain on' means to expect and rely on something happening. 'Bargain for' (often in negative or interrogative constructions) means to expect or anticipate a situation, typically an unwelcome one (e.g., 'He got more trouble than he bargained for'). They are not always interchangeable.
It's grammatically possible but uncommon. The present continuous ('I am bargaining on'), past tenses, or perfect tenses are more natural because the meaning usually involves an ongoing or completed mental calculation about the future.
It is usually followed by a noun phrase ('bargain on his help') or a gerund clause ('bargain on arriving early'). It is less commonly followed by an infinitive.