bargain for

verb

1. (intr, preposition) to expect; anticipate (a style of behaviour, change in fortune, etc)

   he got more than he bargained for

Idioms and Phrases

Also, bargain over . Negotiate about something, usually a price. For example, In open-air markets it is standard practice to bargain for the best price . [Late 1300s]

Also, bargain on . Expect, be prepared for, as in In planning the picnic, we hadn't bargained for bad weather , or I hadn't bargained on John's coming along . [c. 1800] For a synonym, see count on .

Example Sentences

And I have consistently paid about $1,500 in annual union dues in the belief that my union would use the money to bargain for better wages, fair working conditions and classroom improvements.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Right now, Democrats are still trying to decide what they can bargain for, including health insurance subsidies, in the next government funding fight.

Read more on Slate

“Obviously, we are not happy, and not ready to pay that bill that we didn’t bargain for,” said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

So are the Toffees getting a bargain for a young player with a high ceiling, or was Dibling overhyped in the early stages of a campaign which produced just two Premier League goals and no assists?

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Even as U.S. and Israeli intelligence services continue assessing the strikes, and the White House insists Tehran may acquiesce to a grand bargain for peace in the region, analysts say the hostilities were less a finale than a prelude to the next act.

Read more on Los Angeles Times