drive a hard bargain
Demand steep terms
To drive a hard bargain is to negotiate aggressively, refusing to yield on terms or price.
The phrase implies someone who pushes relentlessly for favorable conditions: She drives a hard bargain—we ended up paying more than we wanted.
It can be admiring or critical depending on context.
- haggleDispute price persistently
- dealAgreement or distribution
- negotiateDiscuss to reach agreement
- hard sellAggressive sales approach
- hardballUncompromising competitive tactics
play hardball · uncompromising · stand firm · shrewdness · contract · offer · final offer · take it or leave it · brinkmanship · ultimatum · no deal · walk away · hold out · stubbornness · sticking point · price · bottom line · leverage
drive a hard bargaincave in
Collapse or yield
roll over · capitulate · fold · back down · yield
drive a hard bargainsettle for less
leave money on the table · pay through the nose · give someone a break · overpay
drive, drives, driven, driving, driver, drivers, harder, hardest, hardly