haggle
HAG-uhl
/ˈhæɡ.əl/
To dispute or bargain persistently, especially over the cost of something.
Implies a back-and-forth process that can be either friendly or aggressive.
The story behind the word. From the Old Norse 'haggva', meaning 'to hew' or 'to chop'. It originally described the act of chopping wood, later metaphorically applied to 'chopping' down a price.
Word relationships
- bargain: Bargaining is the general act; haggling suggests a more persistent or petty dispute.
- negotiate: Negotiate is more formal and used for contracts or peace treaties.
- comply: To agree to the price without question.
Commonly confused with
- barter: Haggling is about the price in money; bartering is exchanging goods for other goods.
Word family
- haggler (noun): A person who haggles.
Collocations
- haggle over prices
- haggle with a vendor
- haggle incessantly
Example sentences
- "In many cultures, it is expected that you will haggle over the price of a rug rather than paying the first amount mentioned." Advice for travelers.
- "He managed to haggle the vendor down to half the original asking price." Describing a persistent negotiator.
Memory hook
You 'haggle' to 'hack' the price down. Hack the price.
When not to use
Do not use in high-end retail stores with fixed prices (unless you want to be rude).
Fun facts
- In some cultures, refusing to haggle is considered an insult to the vendor's skill.
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