# one of His Majesty's bad bargains

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/one-of-his-majestys-bad-bargains
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An incapable (sick, etc) or incompetent soldier.

## Examples

- The sergeant called the new recruit one of His Majesty's bad bargains.
- Because the soldier could not march or clean his rifle, the captain considered him one of His Majesty's bad bargains.
- Despite his noble family background, the young officer proved to be one of His Majesty's bad bargains, failing to lead his men during the heat of battle.

## Origin

Suggesting that the soldier is not worth the pay he receives (the King's shilling).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.