split the difference
Find middle ground
Split the difference means to compromise by settling on an amount halfway between two positions, typically in a negotiation over price or terms.
If one person offers $100 and another asks for $200, splitting the difference means agreeing on $150.
The phrase extends beyond money to any situation where parties meet in the middle: We couldn't agree on a restaurant, so we split the difference and ordered takeout.
- settleReach final terms
- cooperateWork jointly with others
- meet halfwayConcede equally to agree
- strike a balanceAchieve equilibrium between competing demands
- midpointExact center between two
even steven · compromise · median · negotiation · bargaining · make a deal · trade-off · arbitration · consensus · common ground · bridge the gap · equidistant · halve · proportionality · concession · fair shake · conciliation · average
- compromisecompromise, middle ground, meet halfway, give and take, give-and-take
- decisionschoice, make a decision, choices, yes, no
- Negotiation Termsdeadlock, bargaining, negotiation, stalemate, compromise
- math expressionsdo the math, add up, crunch numbers, number crunching, number cruncher
- negotiationbargaining, bargain, negotiate, mediation, compromise
- pricingpricing, discount price, overpricing, discounts, overcharge
split the differencewinner-take-all
Only champion receives reward
all or nothing · winner takes all · all-or-nothing · take it or leave it · total victory
split the differencehold firm
Maintain one's position
stand one's ground · dig in · hardball · play hardball · hold the line
split, splits, splitting, splitter, difference, differences, different, differently, differ