bargain (bargains plural & 3rd person present) (bargaining present participle) (bargained past tense & past participle )
1 n-count Something that is a bargain is good value for money, usually because it has been sold at a lower price than normal.
At this price the wine is a bargain...
2 n-count A bargain is an agreement, especially a formal business agreement, in which two people or groups agree what each of them will do, pay, or receive.
(=deal)
I'll make a bargain with you. I'll play hostess if you'll include Matthew in your guest-list..., The treaty was based on a bargain between the French and German governments.
3 verb When people bargainwith each other, they discuss what each of them will do, pay, or receive.
(=negotiate)
They prefer to bargain with individual clients, for cash... V with n
Shop in small local markets and don't be afraid to bargain. V
bargainer (bargainers plural) n-count
A union bargainer said that those jobs have been saved.
bargaining n-uncount oft supp N
The government has called for sensible pay bargaining.
4 If people drive a hard bargain, they argue with determination in order to achieve a deal which is favourable to themselves.
drive a hard bargain phrase V, ADJ, and N inflect
...a law firm with a reputation for driving a hard bargain.
5 You use into the bargain when mentioning an additional quantity, feature, fact, or action, to emphasize the fact that it is also involved. You can also say in the bargain in American English.
into the bargain phrase cl PHR (emphasis)
This machine is designed to save you effort, and keep your work surfaces tidy into the bargain..., She is rich. Now you say she is a beauty into the bargain.
6 If you keep your side of the bargain, you do what you have promised or arranged to do.
keep one's side of the bargain phrase V inflects Dealing with this dictator wasn't an option. He wouldn't have kept his side of the bargain. bargain for , bargain on phrasal verb If you have not bargained for or bargained on something that happens, you did not expect it to happen and so feel surprised or worried by it. usu with brd-neg The effects of this policy were more than the government had bargained for... V P n
bargain basement , bargain-basement
If you refer to something as a bargain basement thing, you mean that it is cheap and not very good quality. adj ADJ n
...a bargain-basement rock musical.
bargain hunter (bargain hunters plural ), bargain-hunter A bargain hunter is someone who is looking for goods that are value for money, usually because they are on sale at a lower price than normal. n-count
plea bargain (plea bargains plural & 3rd person present) (plea bargaining present participle) (plea bargained past tense & past participle )
1 n-count In some legal systems, a plea bargain is an agreement that, if an accused person says they are guilty, they will be charged with a less serious crime or will receive a less severe punishment.
A plea bargain was offered by the state assuring her that she would not go to prison.
2 verb If an accused person plea bargains, they accept a plea bargain.
More and more criminals will agree to plea-bargain. V
plea bargaining n-uncount
...the introduction of a system of plea bargaining.
