Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - horse-trading

also horsetrading 1. If you describe discussions or negotiations as horse-trading, you disapprove of them because they are unofficial and involve compromises. (BRIT mainly JOURNALISM) ...the anger and distaste many people feel at the political horse-trading involved in forming a government. N-UNCOUNT c darkgreen]disapproval 2. When negotiation or bargaining is forceful and shows clever and careful judgment, you can describe it as horse-trading. (AM) N-UNCOUNT