at a discount

Idioms & Phrases

at a discount

At a lower than usual price; also, held in low esteem. For example, I'm holding off on buying a computer until I can get one at a discount, or Liberals are at a discount in the present administration. The first usage, mainly found in business and commerce, dates from about 1700. The figurative usage is about a century newer.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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