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Showing results for bargaining chip. Search instead for remaining chips.
Synonyms

bargaining chip

American  

noun

  1. something, as a concession or inducement, that can be used in negotiating.

Etymology

Origin of bargaining chip

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mamdani has already endorsed her, robbing himself of a valuable bargaining chip.

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

John Swinney said additional duties should not be used as a "bargaining chip" in discussions between trade partners.

From BBC • Jan. 18, 2026

But he didn’t mince words in describing how airlines became a bargaining chip during the shutdown negotiations.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 12, 2025

Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian didn’t mince words in describing how airlines became a bargaining chip during shutdown negotiations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

"If he did," Ishtar said coolly, "he'd have no bargaining chip with you, now, would he?"

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.