drive a hard bargain

1. Be severe in negotiating a transaction, make an agreement to one's advantage. For example, It's more than I planned to pay, but you drive a hard bargain. This expression, first recorded in 1836, uses the verb drive in the sense of “forcefully carry through.”

Example Sentences

Since they haggle on behalf of health plans that collectively enroll hundreds of millions of Americans, these PBMs have considerable leverage, and should theoretically drive a hard bargain and win enormous discounts.

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Some EU coastal states, like France and Denmark, are prepared to drive a hard bargain, demanding that London concedes on fishing rights in return for things it wants.

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"This is where we will drive a hard bargain, and problems could arise," cautions Mr Dhar.

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Samir said, “All right, my brother, you drive a hard bargain. But I am a sensible man. I’ll buy this glorious rug, but throw in that diseased kingfisher bird, and I’ll forgive you for cheating a fellow Christian out of his money.”

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Experts say that as China is not expected to need additional gas supply until after 2030 Beijing could drive a hard bargain on price for a second pipeline via Siberia.

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