bargain for
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.
00:10
Bargain for
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
verb (used with object)
Verb phrases 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.
10.
bargain for, to anticipate or take into account: The job turned out to be more than he had bargained for.
11.
Idioms bargain on, to expect or anticipate; count or rely on: You can't bargain on what she'll do in this situation.
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
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
bar·gain·a·ble, adjective
bar·gain·er, noun
out·bar·gain, verb (used with object)
pre·bar·gain, verb (used with object)
pro·bar·gain·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To bargain for
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World English Dictionary
bargain (ˈbɑːɡɪn) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 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) |
| a. something bought or offered at a low price: a bargain at an auction | |
| b. (as modifier): a bargain price | |
| 4. | into the bargain, in the bargain in excess of what has been stipulated; besides |
| 5. | make a bargain, strike a bargain to agree on terms |
| —vb | |
| 6. | (intr) to negotiate the terms of an agreement, transaction, etc |
| 7. | (tr) to exchange, as in a bargain |
| 8. | to arrive at (an agreement or settlement) |
| [C14: from Old French bargaigne, from bargaignier to trade, of Germanic origin; compare Medieval Latin barcāniāre to trade, Old English borgian to borrow] | |
| 'bargainer | |
| —n | |
| 'bargaining | |
| —n, —adj | |
| bargain for | |
| —vb | |
| (intr, preposition) to expect; anticipate (a style of behaviour, change in fortune, etc): he got more than he bargained for | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
bargain
early 14c., from O.Fr. bargaignier (12c., Mod.Fr. barguigner) "to haggle over the price," perhaps from Frankish *borganjan "to lend," and ultimately from P.Gmc. *borgan (cf. O.H.G. borgen; O.E. borgian, source of borrow). Another suggestion is that the O.Fr. word comes from
L.L. barca "a barge," because it "carries goods to and fro." There are difficulties with both suggestions. A bargain basement (1899) originally was a basement floor in a store where bargains were displayed.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
bargain for
-
Also, . Negotiate about something, usually a price. For example, In open-air markets it is standard practice to bargain for the best price. [Late 1300s]
-
Also, bargain on. Expect, be prepared for, as in In planning the picnic, we hadn't bargained for bad weather, or I hadn't bargained on John's coming along. [c. 1800] For a synonym, see count on.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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