one of His Majesty's bad bargains
English
Etymology
Suggesting that the soldier is not worth the pay he receives.
Noun
one of His Majesty's bad bargains (plural not attested)
- (archaic, idiomatic, rare) An incapable (sick, etc) or incompetent soldier.
Synonyms
- Queen's hard bargain
References
[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: Printed for C. Chappell, […], OCLC 23927885.