horse trading

American  

noun

1. the act or fact of conducting a shrewd exchange or engaging in a horse trade; bargaining.

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horse trading British  

noun

1. hard bargaining to obtain equal concessions by both sides in a dispute

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horse trading Idioms  

1. Negotiation marked by hard bargaining and shrewd exchange. For example, The restaurant owner is famous for his horse trading; he's just exchanged a month of free dinners for a month of free television commercials. This expression alludes to the notorious shrewdness of horse traders, who literally bought and sold horses. [c. 1820]

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Etymology

Origin of horse trading

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

horse trading

World Horse Welfare said unlike other animals such as dogs, there are no regulatory or voluntary industry standards for horse trading, so it is "vital" that sellers and prospective buyers do their due diligence.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

Perhaps this winter will bring more snow, replenishing the reservoirs and buying time for horse trading.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

That means extensive glad-handing and horse trading before the famously blunt Milei can get started on a daunting legislative agenda.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2025

After the election, lawmakers form camps around hotels in the capital Honiara where horse trading takes place to persuade a majority to back various candidates for prime minister.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 15, 2024

There is a great deal of dishonesty in horse trading and an honest seller who has nothing to conceal should be willing to grant a fair trial of a week or more.

From Outdoor Sports and Games by Claude H. Miller