a fair bargain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fair bargain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing an agreement or deal that is considered equitable or just for all parties involved. Example: "After much negotiation, we finally reached a fair bargain that satisfied both sides."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Buying the day of is $5 a day, still a fair bargain.

The New York Times - Arts

The game makes its player a fair bargain: "Give me your time and energy and you will prevail in accordance with your effort".

The Guardian - Tech

And though I often find it difficult to ascertain the opinions of my countrymen, especially in matters concerning politics and the regime, many do believe that it's a fair bargain: limits on personal and political freedoms in exchange for the stability that is so dear to them.

The New York Times

The haves promise to work towards nuclear disarmament, as part of an effort towards general and complete disarmament, and the have-nots promise not to acquire nuclear weapons of their own, in return for help with their civilian nuclear industry.Is it a fair bargain?

The Economist

Contracts and the idea of a fair bargain become meaningless as less powerful parties to an agreement know their rights will not be enforced.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Allowing the state to come in as an owner ― it seems like they would be capable of driving a fairer bargain between labor and capital," Bruenig said.

Huffington Post

As they had with thousands of other seized L.R.A. fighters and defectors, the Ugandan army offered Kwoyelo a seemingly fair bargain: give them information on the L.R.A.'s whereabouts and strategy, and receive amnesty in return.

The New Yorker

Bargaining is a good way of getting a fair deal.

WikiHow

Allusion was made to the tortuous nature of the prolonged negotiations, but it was no secret that both sides were determined to drive a hard but fair bargain.

The Guardian - Sport

"There was no fair bargain in realizing my dad's only freedom from pain was dying.

Huffington Post

When considering various disaggregated and distributed forms of transnational political order, he describes them in nondemocratic terms, as a "negotiating system" governed by fair bargaining.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When negotiating, ensure that all parties involved feel they are getting "a fair bargain" to foster goodwill and long-term relationships.

Common error

Avoid assuming that what you consider "a fair bargain" is universally perceived as such. Always consider the other party's perspective and needs.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fair bargain" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "fair" modifies the noun "bargain." It describes a deal or agreement that is considered equitable and just. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and can be effectively used in writing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fair bargain" is a noun phrase that describes an agreement considered equitable and just. According to Ludwig AI, the expression is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While it appears with a relatively low frequency, it maintains a neutral register applicable to diverse contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business. The phrase is most effective when emphasizing the mutual benefit and impartiality of a transaction, ensuring all parties feel justly treated. Understanding alternative phrases and common usage errors are key to using the phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an equitable agreement

Replaces "bargain" with "agreement" and uses the adjective "equitable" instead of "fair", focusing on impartiality.

a mutually beneficial agreement

Directly states that the agreement benefits all parties involved, ensuring fairness.

a just transaction

Substitutes "bargain" with "transaction" and "fair" with "just", highlighting the moral rightness of the deal.

a reasonable deal

Uses "reasonable" instead of "fair" and "deal" instead of "bargain", suggesting an agreement that is sensible and acceptable.

an honest exchange

Replaces "bargain" with "exchange" and "fair" with "honest", emphasizing integrity and transparency in the transaction.

a square deal

Uses the idiomatic expression "square deal" to convey fairness and equity in the agreement.

an even-handed arrangement

Replaces "bargain" with "arrangement" and "fair" with "even-handed", stressing impartiality and equal treatment.

a balanced compromise

Emphasizes the mutual concessions made in reaching a fair and equitable agreement.

a win-win situation

Highlights the mutually beneficial outcome of the agreement, where all parties gain.

a level playing field

While not a direct synonym, implies that the conditions for the bargain were fair and equitable.

FAQs

How can I use "a fair bargain" in a sentence?

You can use "a fair bargain" to describe an agreement or transaction that is equitable and just for all parties involved. For example, "After negotiations, we reached "an equitable agreement" that felt like a fair bargain to everyone".

What are some alternatives to saying "a fair bargain"?

Alternatives include "an equitable agreement", "a just transaction", or "a reasonable deal", depending on the specific context.

What makes a bargain "fair"?

A bargain is considered "fair" when all parties involved perceive the terms and conditions as equitable and beneficial, without any undue advantage or exploitation.

Is "a fair bargain" always the best outcome?

While aiming for "a fair bargain" is generally desirable, sometimes a more advantageous outcome for one party may be acceptable if it doesn't exploit or disadvantage the other party.