split the difference

present singular third person splits the difference · participle present splitting the difference

1. In a financial transaction, to settle on an amount midway between the offer and the asking price.

   My new brother-in-law Allen told me I should ought to give the preist $5 and I thought it should be about $2 the same as the license so I split the difference and give him $3.50.

   1916, Ring Lardner, Sr., chapter 3, in You Know Me Al

   1 more example

   "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."

   1838, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], chapter 3, in Oliver Twist; […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC

   Synonyms: meet halfway

2. broadlyidiomaticTo choose an option or take a position roughly midway between two opposed alternatives; to compromise.

   Expert advice to him from many sources varied between 5 ft. and 5 ft. 6 in. He split the difference at 5 ft. 3 in., which was fixed by Act of August 18, 1856, as the standard for Ireland.

   1948 September and October, “The Why and The Wherefore: The Irish Gauge”, in Railway Magazine, page 348

   3 more examples

   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.

   1873 May 1 – December 22 (date written), Anthony Trollope, chapter 28, in The Way We Live Now. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Chapman and Hall, […], published June 1875, →OCLC

   Gulden appeared at a loss for an instant reply. "I want plenty to do," he replied, presently. "I want to be in on everything. I want to be free to kill a man when I like." . . . "Gulden, I'll split the difference between us. I'll leave you free to do as you like. But all the others—every man—must take orders from me."

   1916, Zane Grey, chapter 11, in The Border Legion

   In terms of both price and efficiency, the Malibu Eco attempts to split the difference between a conventionally powered sedan and all-out efficiency champs like the Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion hybrids.

   2012 July 8, “New Cars: Embracing Efficiency, Halfheartedly”, in New York Times, retrieved 15 Nov 2015

   Synonyms: meet halfway