horse trading
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- Negotiation accompanied by mutual concessions and shrewd bargaining: The act of negotiating in a clever, often hard-nosed way, where each party makes concessions to reach a deal. This sense is often used in political or business contexts.
- The swapping of horses (accompanied by much bargaining): The original, literal meaning referring to the act of trading horses, which historically involved intense and skillful negotiation over the value and qualities of the animals.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The final bill was a result of intense horse trading between the two political parties. (This shows the figurative use in politics.)
- The old-fashioned horse trading at the county fair involved a lot of haggling and inspection of the animals. (This illustrates the original, literal meaning.)
Advanced Usage
- "To engage in horse trading": To participate in shrewd, give-and-take negotiations.
- The union leaders engaged in some tough horse trading with management before agreeing to the contract.
Variants and Related Words
- Horse-trader (noun): A person who is skilled at making shrewd deals or negotiations.
- He was known in the senate as a master horse-trader.
Synonyms
- Bargaining: The negotiation of the terms of a transaction.
- Haggling: Disputing or bargaining persistently, especially over the cost of something.
- Wheeling and dealing: Engaging in clever, and sometimes slightly dishonest, business or political negotiations.
Related Phrases
- Backroom dealing: Secret or private negotiations, often of a political nature, which can involve elements of horse trading.
- The compromise was reached not on the floor but through backroom dealing.
Related Idioms
- "To drive a hard bargain": To negotiate effectively and firmly, ensuring you get favorable terms. This is a key skill in horse trading.
- Be careful when negotiating with her; she's known to drive a hard bargain.
Noun
- negotiation accompanied by mutual concessions and shrewd bargaining
- the swapping of horses (accompanied by much bargaining)