split the difference

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split the difference

verb splits the difference · splitting the difference · split the difference

In a financial transaction, to settle on an amount midway between the offer and the asking price. "Come!" said Gamfield; "say four pound, gen'lmen. Say four pound, and you've got rid on him for good and all. There!" "Three pound ten," repeated Mr. Limbkins, firmly. "Come! I'll split the difference, gen'lmen," urged Gamfield. "Three pound fifteen."
Similar: meet halfway
broadly, idiomatic To choose an option or take a position roughly midway between two opposed alternatives; to compromise. Dolly suggested that they should meet at the club at 4 p.m. Sir Felix had named noon, and promised to call at Dolly's lodgings. They split the difference at last and agreed to start at two.
Similar: meet halfway

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verb in a financial transaction

Français	couper la poire en deux

verb to compromise

Français	couper la poire en deux

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MLA

"split the difference." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/split%20the%20difference. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

split the difference. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/split%20the%20difference

Chicago

"split the difference." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/split%20the%20difference.

BibTeX

@misc{split_the_difference_2026,
  title = {split the difference},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/split%20the%20difference},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}