horse trade

noun

: negotiation accompanied by shrewd bargaining and reciprocal concessions
a political horse trade
horse trader noun

Examples of horse trade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The rising profile of McHenry and Emmer is likely bullish for crypto bills, as both work to convince Democrats on their committee—and their counterparts over in the Senate—to horse trade over stablecoin and market structure legislation. Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 4 Oct. 2023 Congress, by contrast, can hold wide-ranging hearings, issue subpoenas, survey and even commission empirical research, weigh fiscal trade-offs, consider constituent popularity, balance different values and interests, horse trade, negotiate, and forge compromises. Ian MacDougall, Harper’s Magazine , 28 Sep. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of horse trade was in 1846

Dictionary Entries Near horse trade

Cite this Entry

“Horse trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horse%20trade. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

horse trade

noun
: bargaining marked by clever careful dealing by both sides
horse-trade verb
horse trader noun

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