drove a hard bargain
Demanded better terms
To drive a hard bargain is to negotiate aggressively, refusing to yield on terms or price.
The phrase often carries a note of grudging respect—someone who drives a hard bargain may be tough to deal with but effective: She drove a hard bargain, but we finally agreed on a price.
The past tense drove appears in descriptions of completed negotiations: He drove a hard bargain and walked away with the better deal.
- transactionExchange of goods/money
- assertivenessConfident self-expression quality
- strike a dealFinalize a negotiation
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- play hardballCompete without mercy
strong-arm tactics · hard sell · brinkmanship · counteroffer · final offer · take it or leave it · no deal · persuasion · leverage · twist someone's arm · anchoring · concession · walk away · push the envelope · profit margin · hold one's ground · haggle · power dynamics
drove a hard bargaincaved in
Collapsed or capitulated
capitulated · gave in · folded · rolled over · backed down
drove, drives, driven, driving, driver, drivers, harder, hardest, hardly