blind bargain

USAGE SUMMARY

"blind bargain" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe an agreement made without full knowledge or understanding of the terms. For example, "Entering into a blind bargain can lead to unexpected consequences." Alternative expressions include "blind deal," "unseen agreement," and "uninformed contract."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Blind bargain," she wrote in her sketchbook.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Blind, blind?

The Guardian

Suddenly, witnesses and the police said, the doors shattered, and the shrieking mob surged through in a blind rush for holiday bargains.

The New York Times

In addition, it seems likely that customers who had turned a blind eye to the fact that their bargain handset was probably stolen would be less inclined to make the same mistake again if it failed to make calls.

Crime Science

You'd be surprised by how many sensible people are so blinded by thoughts of snapping up a bargain that they make an expensive mistake.

Independent

They include, he said, "charge bargaining," in which prosecutors drop selected charges in exchange for a plea, and "fact bargaining," in which prosecutors turn a blind eye to evidence, typically guns or drugs, that would require a harsher sentence.

The New York Times

But after some bargaining, the news was downgraded to a blind item after Mr. Hiltzik argued it would hurt the subject's children.

The New York Times

But his blind spots on Wall Street and the so-called grand bargain are tarnishing his legacy, messing up his politics, and hurting the cause of the middle class he claims to be fighting for.

Huffington Post

His props, including old Buicks and Oldsmobiles he took to buyers' houses ("I drove the paint off three of those bastards"), were all part of the bargaining act, a sort of collector's duck blind behind which he hid.

Forbes

The other huge blind spot is on Obama's great desire to strike this "grand bargain", including cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Huffington Post

Always bargain.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

It works effectively as a metaphor for personal relationships or life decisions where the outcome is unpredictable.

Common error

Do not use "blind bargain" when you mean to say someone is ignoring a problem. A "blind bargain" is an active agreement made in the dark, whereas a "blind eye" is a passive refusal to acknowledge something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "blind bargain" functions as a compound noun where the adjective "blind" modifies the noun "bargain". In Ludwig AI, it is identified as a valid idiomatic structure used to denote a transaction made without inspection.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academic

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "blind bargain" is a grammatically correct and sophisticated way to describe a deal or agreement entered into without full knowledge or visual inspection. According to Ludwig AI, while its literal occurrence as an exact phrase is "Rare", the components and surrounding usage in major publications like The New Yorker confirm its status as a high-quality idiomatic expression. It is distinct from a bad bargain because it focuses on the lack of information at the outset rather than just the negative result. Writers should use it to add a layer of risk or mystery to descriptions of transactions and commitments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

blind deal

More informal and commonly used in casual business contexts

pig in a poke

An idiomatic expression specifically referring to something bought without inspection

sight unseen purchase

Specific to retail and commerce where an item is bought before being seen

unseen agreement

Lacks the idiomatic nuance of a bargain but emphasizes the lack of visual confirmation

uninformed contract

Shifts the focus to a legal or formal context where information was withheld

opaque transaction

Used in professional or financial contexts to describe lack of transparency

risky arrangement

A broader term that describes the danger without the specific lack of sight

leap of faith

More abstract and focused on the emotional or spiritual risk rather than a trade

speculative trade

Focuses on the financial gamble rather than the physical blindness to the item

random choice

Suggests a lack of strategy rather than a negotiated but hidden agreement

FAQs

How do I use "blind bargain" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a risky deal, such as: "Investing in that startup without seeing their books was a total "blind bargain"."

What is a synonym for "blind bargain"?

A common synonym is "blind deal" or the idiom "pig in a poke".

Is "blind bargain" a common phrase?

It is relatively "Rare" in daily conversation but appears in high-quality literature and journalism, such as in the works found in Ludwig.

What is the difference between a "blind bargain" and a "bad bargain"?

A "bad bargain" is a deal that turned out poorly regardless of initial knowledge, while a "blind bargain" specifically highlights that the terms were unknown at the start.