as in to negotiate
to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase
I horse-traded with the painter: I did his tax returns, and he did my kitchen
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as in negotiation
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Recent Examples of horse-trade
Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 4 Oct. 2023
The blandishments McCarthy might have offered to horse trade his way to the speakership — fancy titles, perks, a fundraising appearance — meant little to those Republican holdouts who would like nothing more than to burn Washington to the ground.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 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
Krikorian, from the restrictionist Center for Immigration Studies, argued DACA recipients could have gotten green cards by now, if Democrats had been willing to horse trade for tougher enforcement.
—Dallas News, 18 July 2022
In the early 1960s, the bistate agency took over what was then the struggling Hudson and Manhattan Railroad as part of a horse trade between New Jersey and New York that committed the Port to build the first World Trade Center.
—Paul Berger, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2018
And Paul George finally escaped Indiana, albeit to a dark-horse trade partner in the Oklahoma City Thunder.
—Peter Dawson and [email protected], star-telegram, 13 Dec. 2017
Noun
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
The blandishments McCarthy might have offered to horse trade his way to the speakership — fancy titles, perks, a fundraising appearance — meant little to those Republican holdouts who would like nothing more than to burn Washington to the ground.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 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
Krikorian, from the restrictionist Center for Immigration Studies, argued DACA recipients could have gotten green cards by now, if Democrats had been willing to horse trade for tougher enforcement.
—Dallas News, 18 July 2022
In the early 1960s, the bistate agency took over what was then the struggling Hudson and Manhattan Railroad as part of a horse trade between New Jersey and New York that committed the Port to build the first World Trade Center.
—Paul Berger, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2018
And Paul George finally escaped Indiana, albeit to a dark-horse trade partner in the Oklahoma City Thunder.
—Peter Dawson and [email protected], star-telegram, 13 Dec. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horse-trade
Verb
-
Mamdani negotiated 1,000 affordable tickets from FIFA at $50 each, with free round-trip transportation, for New Yorkers who won a lottery.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
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After submitting an internet bill for review, Rocket Money successfully negotiated a lower monthly rate, reducing the cost from $90 to $50 per month.—
Nick Perry,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Noun
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The decision was made due to logistical challenges and in hopes of avoiding delays that might derail the negotiation process, one source said.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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The Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria has reclaimed 450 acres of ancestral land in Butte County after roughly seven years of negotiations.—
Ruyuan Li. Summary produced by AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
The resignation dealt another blow to embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is already facing demands from Labour colleagues to step down.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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The drone agreement between Canada and Ukraine is the latest defense diplomacy deal the Ukrainian government has made this year.—
Mark Temnycky,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Over the course of several interviews over the past month, Charlotte-area parents described child care not as a normal consumer decision but as something closer to a strategic campaign involving timing, networking, luck, financial compromise and backup plans layered on top of backup plans.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
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Weeks of debate and negotiation culminated Tuesday with the San Diego City Council adopting a compromise budget that includes last-minute moves to boost flood prevention and partially restore hours at libraries and rec centers.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The discharge petition forced a vote on the Faster Labor Contracts Act, a bill requiring employers to bargain within 10 days of union certification to prevent employers from stalling first-time union contracts.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
9 June 2026
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Before Haynes bargained with vascular surgeon Dua to have a smoke, Mark Picard, 53, was telling his story to podiatric surgeon Sara Rose-Sauld.—
Elizabeth Cooney,
STAT,
8 June 2026
Noun
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In the 4th century, a defensive wall was constructed in response to instability and military pressures, leading to the fortification of urban settlements.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
7 June 2026
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Inside, artifacts, photographs, and archival materials trace the surge of prospectors who passed through in the late 1850s, when Lillooet briefly grew into one of the largest settlements north of San Francisco, with a population that peaked around 16,000.—
Vivian Chung,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2026
Noun
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Plans to sign the memorandum of understanding virtually came together over the last day to cement the agreement quickly and avoid any eleventh-hour spoilers, officials familiar with the matter said.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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The official said Iran would be relieved of certain economic sanctions by the United States for following through on demands outlined in the memorandum of understanding.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Noun
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Good old Michelob beer sold in red, white, and blue cans poured from the concessions; helicopters choppered overhead for a flyover and movie stars got face time.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
-
Some locations will offer concessions for purchase.—
Point Loma-Ob Monthly,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Horse-trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse-trade. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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