halves

sports cliché In football (soccer), the fortunes of each team can reverse dramatically between the two 45-minute halves of play. Used especially in sports reporting and analysis. Barcelona has overcome a four-goal deficit to defeat Real Madrid. Football really is a game of two halves.

sports cliché In football (soccer), to have one team outplay the other in the first half of the game, only to be outplayed themselves in the second half. Used especially in sports reporting and analysis. In a stunning conclusion, Barcelona has overcome a four-goal deficit at half-time to defeat Real Madrid! It truly was a game of two halves.

To share the cost of something equally between two people. We each had about the same amount to eat and drink, so let's go halves on the bill. I'm pretty broke, but I'll go halves with you on a bottle of wine.

One's spouse, romantic partner, or boyfriend/girlfriend. I'd love to come out to the bars with you after work, but I'd better check in with my other half to make sure we don't have any plans for this evening. The work retreat is meant to be for couples, so be sure to bring your other half!

Partially raised or lowered. The phrase most often describes a flag that has been lowered to honor a recently-deceased person. After our former president died, flags were at half-mast all across the country. My daughter came home from the park covered in dirt, her ponytail at half-mast.

[of a flag] halfway up or down its flagpole. The flag was flying at half-mast because the general had died. Americans fly flags at half-staff on Memorial Day.

to do something without enthusiasm or not completely He did not do things by halves, and so the rundown farm became a beautiful country estate.

if you do not do things by halves, you always make a lot of effort and do things very well 'I didn't realise you were decorating the whole house!' 'Oh, we don't do things by halves round here.'

Halfway up or down, as in The church bells tolled off and on all day and the flags were at half-mast. This term refers to placing a flag halfway up a ship's mast or flagpole, a practice used as a mark of respect for a person who has died or, at sea, as a distress signal. Occasionally the term is transferred to other objects, as in Tom's pants were at half-mast as he raced around the playground, or The puppy's tail was at half-mast. [First half of 1600s]

Imperfectly, reluctantly, or half-heartedly, as in You really can't paint a portrait by halves. [Mid-1500s]

Also, go fifty-fifty. Share equally. For example, Ann suggested that they go halves on the rent, or The brothers are going fifty-fifty in their new business. The first term dates from the late 1600s, the variant from the early 1900s.

In a reluctant manner; unenthusiastically.