bargain
bargain — noun
1. an item you buy for much less money than it is normally worth, so you feel you g
an item you buy for much less money than it is normally worth, so you feel you got a very good deal.
Ines found a leather jacket for ten dollars at the church sale — what a bargain!
exclamation: 'what a bargain!'
The blue sofa was a real bargain because the store was closing down.
collocation: 'a real bargain'
Eitan picks up bargains at the Saturday flea market — last week he got a vintage radio for two dollars.
At twenty euros, this winter coat is an absolute bargain.
Mateo bought three children's books for one pound — a great bargain.
- rip-off
informal; the opposite — paying far more than the item is worth
文法句型
a bargain
a real/great bargain
a bargain at [price]
用法筆記
Often appears in the exclamation 'What a bargain!' and with adjectives like 'real', 'great', or 'absolute'. The speaker is praising the low price relative to the item's quality, not just stating it was cheap.
常見錯誤
2. an agreement in which two sides each promise to give or do something for the oth
an agreement in which two sides each promise to give or do something for the other.
Diego made a bargain with his sister: she walks the dog, he cleans the kitchen.
pattern: make a bargain with [person]
The two countries struck a bargain to share fishing rights along the coast.
collocation: 'strike a bargain'
You promised to help with the move, so please keep your side of the bargain.
The workers and managers reached a bargain after three long nights of talks.
文法句型
make/strike a bargain
a bargain with someone
keep one's side of the bargain
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about a mutual agreement, not a low-priced item. Frequently appears as 'make / strike / reach a bargain' and in the fixed phrase 'keep your side of the bargain'.
常見錯誤
bargain — verb
1. to discuss the price or conditions of something with another person, hoping to r
to discuss the price or conditions of something with another person, hoping to reach a deal that suits you better.
Tourists love to bargain with the sellers in the old market in Marrakesh.
pattern: bargain with [person]
The union bargained hard over wages and finally won a small pay rise.
pattern: bargain over [issue]
Xander bargained the seller down from fifty dollars to thirty.
Mateo bargained for a basket of mangoes at the Bangkok night market.
The teachers' union bargained late into the night before agreeing on smaller class sizes.
文法句型
bargain with somebody
bargain over something
bargain for something
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or group trying to gain an advantage. Often paired with 'with' (the other party), 'over' (the issue), or 'for' (the thing wanted). Also note the phrasal use 'bargain someone down', meaning to push the other side to accept a lower price.
常見錯誤
bargain — adjective
1. used before a noun to describe goods sold cheaply, well below their usual price.
used before a noun to describe goods sold cheaply, well below their usual price.
Eitan picked up these jeans at a bargain price last weekend.
collocation: 'bargain price'
The bookshop has a bargain table near the door full of last year's titles.
collocation: 'bargain table'
Ines is a real bargain hunter — she checks three different supermarkets before buying her weekly groceries.
The supermarket has a whole shelf of bargain wines under five euros.
- cut-price
British; more directly says the price has been lowered
- discounted
neutral; suggests an official price reduction
- cheap
broader; can also imply low quality, which 'bargain' does not
- premium
describes goods sold at a higher-than-usual price for higher quality
文法句型
bargain + noun
bargain price
bargain hunter
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive). You cannot say 'the price is bargain' — say 'the price is a bargain' (noun) or 'the price is low'.