splitting the difference
Finding middle ground
Splitting the difference means compromising by meeting halfway between two positions, typically in a negotiation.
If one party offers $100 and another wants $200, splitting the difference settles at $150.
The phrase applies beyond money to any disagreement where both sides give equal ground: Let's just split the difference and call it even.
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- negotiateDiscuss to reach agreement
- halfwayAt the midpoint
- middleCentral point or position
- common groundPoints of agreement
meet in the middle · ground · happy medium · bargain · horse trading · concession · settle · meet · tradeoff · agreement · mutual agreement · come to terms · haggle · price negotiation · arbitrate · mediate · fairness · balance
- splittingcell division
- negotiationbargaining, bargain, negotiate, mediation, compromise
splitting the differencewinner-take-all
Only champion receives reward
all-or-nothing · zero-sum · total victory · unconditional surrender · clean sweep
splitting the differencedigging in
Establishing a defensive position
brinkmanship · stonewalling · intransigence · going to the mat · hardball
splitting the differenceall the way
To the full extent
doubling down · maximizing · optimizing · precision · exactitude
splits, splitter, splitting, differ, differs, differed, differing, different, difference