haggle
HAG-uhl
/ˈhæɡl/
Dispute or bargain persistently, especially over the cost of something.
Implies a petty, back-and-forth argument over price or minor details, often in a market setting.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Old Norse word for chopping or hacking. Originally, to 'haggle' meant to cut or hack clumsily at something. Over time, the physical chopping of wood turned into the figurative 'chopping' of prices during a noisy market dispute.
Word relationships
- dicker: Dicker is a regional American term for petty bargaining, while haggle is universally understood and carries a slightly more aggressive connotation.
- acquiesce: Acquiesce means to accept something without protest or bargaining, whereas haggle is to contest every detail.
Commonly confused with
- negotiate: Negotiate is a formal, professional process to reach an agreement, while haggle is an informal, often argumentative dispute over price.
Word family
- haggler (noun): a person who haggles
Collocations
- haggle over
- haggle about
- haggle with
Idioms & expressions
- drive a hard bargain
- split hairs
Example sentences
- "It is expected that you will haggle in the bazaar." Describing shopping in an open-air market.
- "The two departments spent weeks haggling over the budget allocation." Describing a tedious business dispute.
Memory hook
Think of 'hack'. You are hacking away at the price until it's small enough. Chopping down the price.
When not to use
Do not use for highly formal, high-stakes diplomatic treaties (use negotiate or parley instead).
Fun facts
- In the 16th century, 'haggle' was used to describe cutting someone's hair unevenly before it became associated with market bargaining.
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