half measure
Inadequate stopgap action
A half measure is an action that doesn't go far enough to solve a problem—a partial or inadequate effort: Half measures won't fix a failing school system.
The phrase usually carries criticism, implying someone lacked the courage or resources to do what was truly needed.
Often plural: No more half measures.
- crumbSmall broken-off piece
- sipSmall mouthful of liquid
- dribbleLeak in drops
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
- insufficientBelow required quantity
watered down · piecemeal · sliver · compromise · fence sitting · ineffectiveness · mediocrity · equivocation · vacillation · palliation · band-aid · quick fix · avoidance · stopgap · partial · bare minimum · complacency · stagnation
- Strategic Mistakesmiscalculation, overconfidence, underestimation, poor timing, overextension
- tradeoffstradeoff, compromise, cost-benefit, risk-reward, give-and-take
- failuresfailure, failures, flop, flops, bust
- makeshift fixesquick fix, stopgap, duct tape, band-aid, bandaid
half measurefull measure
Complete quantity deserved
whole hog · going all in · going all the way · the whole nine yards · maximum effort
half measuregoing all in
no holds barred · pulling out all the stops · balls to the wall · pedal to the metal
half, measure, halve, halves, halved, halving, halfway, halfhearted, measures