a hard bargain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a hard bargain' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone makes a deal that is not beneficial to both sides. For example: "He made us a hard bargain, but we finally accepted it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"The Iraqis will strike a hard bargain".

The New York Times

The class drove a hard bargain.

The New York Times

"You drive a hard bargain, Miss Steele".

The Guardian - Books

United plainly drove a hard bargain.

The New York Times

Sensing an opportunity, Eisenbud struck a hard bargain with Nike.

The New York Times - Sports

Lynch's intransigence was mistaken for driving a hard bargain.

The New Yorker

G.E. is certainly not driving a hard bargain.

The New York Times

Driving a hard bargain, however, would protect taxpayers.

The New York Times

What they can do however is drive a hard bargain.

The Guardian - Opinion

Debtors may wish to drive a hard bargain but that risks delaying a settlement.

The Economist

When American authorities bailed out their banking system, they drove a hard bargain.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the act of negotiating, consider using the verb "drive" with "a hard bargain" (e.g., "drive a hard bargain") to emphasize active and assertive negotiation tactics.

Common error

Avoid using "a hard bargain" to simply mean "a difficult agreement." The phrase implies more than just difficulty; it suggests an imbalance of power and a resulting unfairness in the terms.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a hard bargain" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the object of a verb, such as "drive", "strike", or "make", indicating the result of a negotiation process. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a deal heavily skewed in favor of one party.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a hard bargain" is a noun phrase used to describe a negotiation outcome where one party obtains significantly more favorable terms than the other. It's often used with verbs like "drive", "strike", or "make", and its use implies an imbalance of power during the negotiation. Ludwig AI affirms that it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, media, and business. When crafting your message with "a hard bargain", it is important to ensure context makes clear who's taking advantage in the negotiation, and who is on the receiving end. Keep in mind that the phrase suggests unfairness and imbalance, not merely difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drive a tough bargain

Similar to the original phrase, but uses 'tough' instead of 'hard'.

unfavorable deal

Indicates a deal that is disadvantageous to one party involved.

extract favorable terms

Highlights the act of obtaining advantageous conditions in a negotiation.

tough negotiation

Focuses on the difficulty of the negotiation process itself.

stringent agreement

Highlights the strictness and demanding nature of the agreement.

aggressive negotiation

Describes the style of negotiation, emphasizing a forceful approach.

difficult terms

Emphasizes the challenging conditions or stipulations of an agreement.

exact a high price

Focuses on the high cost or concessions required to reach an agreement.

demanding settlement

Implies that the settlement requires significant concessions from one party.

one-sided arrangement

Stresses the imbalance of power or benefits in the arrangement.

FAQs

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

You can use "a hard bargain" to describe a negotiation where one party gains a significant advantage. For example: "The company drove "a hard bargain" in the contract negotiations, leaving the supplier with minimal profit."

What's a similar phrase to "a hard bargain"?

Alternatives to "a hard bargain" include "tough negotiation", "unfavorable deal", or "demanding settlement", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

What does it mean to "drive a hard bargain"?

To "drive "a hard bargain"" means to negotiate aggressively and uncompromisingly, often resulting in a deal that heavily favors one party over the other. It implies a strong negotiating position and a willingness to exploit it.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "a hard bargain"?

The phrase "a hard bargain" is appropriate when discussing negotiations that result in an uneven or unfair outcome, usually where one party has significantly more leverage than the other. It's often used in business, politics, and other scenarios involving formal agreements.