He bargains about carpeting (10)

I believe the answer is:

earbashing

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'carpeting' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are present participle verbs.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'he bargains about' is the wordplay.
'about' indicates an anagram.
'he'+'bargains'='hebargains'
'hebargains' anagrammed gives 'EARBASHING'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for earbashing that I've seen before include "Torrent of abuse" , "lecture" , "Dressing down" , "lengthy speech" , "severe scolding" .)

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