Explore English traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-10-02
Sense: Verified- Meaning and lesson
Once people have agreed to a deal, they should honor its terms even if one of them later wishes they had agreed to something else.
The proverb treats the promise made in an exchange as more important than a later change of heart about whether the deal was favorable.
- When it is used
Use it to remind someone to keep to an agreed price or exchange rather than renegotiate afterward. It can address either party to the bargain.
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: A bargain is a bargain.