more than one bargained for
- idiom
- Informal
:
más de lo que se esperaba
- The job offer turned out to be more than she bargained for!
Examples
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Did you get more than you bargained for with the new project?
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The surprise party was more than one bargained for when all her friends showed up unexpectedly.
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After accepting the new job, she quickly realized she had more than one bargained for.
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The hike turned out to be more than one bargained for when the weather changed suddenly.
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They expected a simple renovation, but they got more than one bargained for with hidden repairs.
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After moving to the city, he realized that the cost of living was more than one bargained for.
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The vacation became more than one bargained for due to the unexpected expenses and complications.
Antonyms
How Unexpected
- Informal
738
1.0
392
2.5
1
2.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
more + than + one + bargained + for
The phrase has a visible composition — 'more than' + 'one' + 'bargained for' suggests literally receiving or encountering more than was negotiated or expected. However, the use of 'bargain for' in the sense of 'expect/allow for' is somewhat idiomatic and not a straightforward meaning of the verb 'bargain' (to negotiate), so a B1 learner who knows the single-word senses may only partially infer the exact idiomatic sense without prior exposure.
Etymology
More than one bargained for comes from market bargaining: a buyer would 'bargain for' one item, but if they ended up with extra goods or hidden problems they had more than they expected. That's why it now means 'to receive or face more than you expected', often in an unwanted or difficult way.