horse trading

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noun

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

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Origin of horse trading

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

Words nearby horse trading

horsetail, horsetail agaric, horsetail tree, horse trade, horse trader, horse trading, horse trailer, horseweed, horsewhip, horsewoman, horsey

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use horse trading in a sentence

I mean, the reality of it was, I had to go out and get on a horse, and ride in, shoot the gun — how hard was that, right?
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The poet apparently collapsed in the street upon his departure from “The Horse” and died not long after.
The Bars That Made America Great|Nina Strochlic|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Horse You Came in On Saloon, Baltimore Horse-themed bars must be bad luck for famous authors.
The Bars That Made America Great|Nina Strochlic|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That tweet came from Shay Horse, whose bio lists him as an independent photojournalist with ties to Occupy Wall Street.
The Monsters Who Screamed for Dead Cops|Jacob Siegel|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And the budget provides $697,000 to the “Horse Protection Act of 1970.”
Congress’ Gift That Keeps on Giving|P. J. O’Rourke|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the mention of the Merrill Horse, Poindexter's countenance took on a demoniac expression.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
But you are mistaken in thinking the force west consists of the entire Merrill Horse.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
It was at this parliament that the famous acts against horse racing and deceitful gaming were passed.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Four years ago Hetton's horse had been first favourite, but it was ignominiously beaten.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
As the window dropped, Ripperda saw the wounded postilion fall on the neck of his horse.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter

British Dictionary definitions for horse trading

horse trading

noun

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with horse trading

horse trading

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]

horse trading

Origin of horse trading

Words nearby horse trading

Words related to horse trading

How to use horse trading in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for horse trading

Other Idioms and Phrases with horse trading