Hardly any time at all.

Hi Guys,

I keep on reading about the bail-out plan and I came across some expression the meaning of which is not so clear to me. Maybe you can help me:

Hardly any time at all. The US administration has demanded an agreement by the end of the weekend. But as the clock keeps ticking and the horse trading continues, there is still no bill to put to the vote

the clock ticks (that is the sound a clock makes)so, the idea is that time passes by, so far so good, but what about "and the horse trading"...? could it be that the horse keeps on riding, emphazising that times really passes by and there is not time to waste)

Thanks all, DIEGONEL

Hi Diego!
According to http://www.usingenglish.com "Horse trading" is an idiom used to describe negotiations, especially where these are difficult and involve a lot of compromise. I guess in Spanish you can translate it as "regateo", "chalaneo" (acción de negociar con destreza)

Hope it helps!

Mil gracias Mem:)