horsetrading · noun — informal negotiating, especially when complex or clever in nature. It carries an Arena rating of 1500, earned across 91 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, horsetrading ranks #1,307 of 17,188 for Funniest Words, #2,298 of 17,162 for Most Ingenious Words, #2,445 of 17,146 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #3,698 of 17,160 for Most Malleable Words.
Why “horsetrading” is a great word
HORSETRADING — [Noun] Informal, shrewd, and complex negotiation, especially in politics or business, characterized by hard bargaining and the potential for sharp dealing. From the literal practice of horse trading, historically notorious for its protracted assessments and potential for sharp dealing. Unlike "negotiation," which denotes a general, often formal process of discussion, or "logrolling," which specifies the exchange of political favors, horsetrading evokes a grittier arena where principle is fluid and value is situational. It is the cigar smoke in a backroom, the artful omission of a flaw, and the minor concession that secures a major victory—the unvarnished grime on the gears of power, acknowledging that progress is often less about ideals than the art of the possible deal.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
From horse + trading.
noun
- Informal negotiating, especially when complex or clever in nature.e.g.“Next Wednesday, four women and 15 men on the Crown Nominations Commission will gather for two days of prayer and horsetrading to replace Rowan Williams as archbishop of Canterbury.” — 2012 September 20, Andrew Brown, “Archbishop of Canterbury succession race begins in earnest”, in The Guardian (online):
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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