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to haggle

to haggle

26 3.3
To argue about the price to try to pay less
  • verb
  • /ˈhæɡəl/
translation icon : regatear
  • In the bustling market, I had to haggle over the price of fresh fruits.
  • haggle over the price

You know, sort of across, across cultures about what's auctioned and or, you know, sort of haggled over and what's sold at a posted price.

Examples

  • Usually you can haggle with them and get a better deal than that.

  • They expect you to haggle.

  • I tried to haggle them down.

  • We could haggle forever, huh?

  • Paul, let's not haggle over this thing anymore!

  • I'll haggle for the materials myself.

  • Now we're haggling over price.

  • Their leader and the boatmen were haggling over the fare.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Her husband was at the counter haggling over a small marble replica of the Parthenon.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Women with baskets stood amid the flimsy stalls of the marketplace, haggling with farmers or their agents over the high prices.

    Fiction book (2000)

Synonyms

to negotiate
vsto haggle
  • Formal
801 3.7

Try to reach an agreement by talking, often about business terms

is narrower, focusing on persistent arguing over price or terms
to bargain
vsto haggle
103 2.4

To discuss the price or terms to get a better deal

adds the idea of arguing persistently rather than just discussing
to treat
vsto haggle
  • Archaic
5 9.9

To negotiate formally with another group to reach agreement

is informal and emphasizes persistent arguing during negotiation
to dicker
vsto haggle
  • US
3 8.4

To bargain about a price before buying something

stresses repeated arguing or persistence rather than simple offers
to higgle
vsto haggle
  • Archaic
9.9

To argue about the price to try to make it lower

is the alternative form with the same meaning
to chaffer
vsto haggle
  • Archaic
9.9

Talk with someone to get a lower price or a better deal

focuses more on persistent arguing during that bargaining
to huckster
vsto haggle
8.6

To argue or bargain to change the price

is similar but highlights persistent arguing over those terms
6.3

To negotiate strongly to get a better price or better terms

is more about persistent arguing rather than forceful skill

Antonyms

1.0

Have the same opinion or say yes

How Persistent

to haggle
26 3.3
to bargain
103 2.4
to negotiate
  • Formal
801 3.7

Surface Forms

haggle infinitive
haggled past
haggled past participle
haggling present participle
haggles third person singular

Etymology

Haggle probably comes from an old Scandinavian word haggla meaning 'to chop' or 'cut up'. A helpful image is cutting a price bit by bit, which is why to haggle is to argue and negotiate to get a lower cost.