one of His Majesty's bad bargains

English edit

Etymology edit

Suggesting that the soldier is not worth the pay he receives.

Pronunciation edit

Audio (AU) (file)

Noun edit

one of His Majesty 's bad bargains (plural not attested)

(archaic, idiomatic, rare) An incapable (sick, etc) or incompetent soldier.

Synonyms edit

Queen's hard bargain

References edit

[Francis] Grose [et al.] (1811) “One of His Majesty's bad bargains”, in Lexicon Balatronicum. A Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence. […], London: […] C. Chappell, […], →OCLC.