more than one bargained for

more than one bargained for idiom
An unexpected outcome, especially an unfavorable one, as in Serving on the board this year has involved more work than I bargained for. This expression alludes to a higher than anticipated cost for a transaction. [Mid-1800s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.