half : Idioms & Phrases

Index

A half cock
At half cock
Better half
chance-half correlation
first half
go off at half-cock
go off half-cocked
half a dozen
Half ape
Half back
Half bent
Half binding
half blood
Half boarder
half boot
half brother
Half cadence
Half cap
half cross stitch
half crown
half dollar
half door
half dozen
half eagle
half gainer
half hatchet
Half hitch
Half hose
half life
half mask
Half measure
half mile
half nelson
Half note
half page
Half pay
half pound
Half price
half rest
Half round
half seas over
Half shift
half sister
half snipe
half sole
Half step
Half tide
Half time
Half tint
half title
half track
Half truth
half volley
Half year
half-and-half
half-and-half dressing
half-baked
half-blooded
half-boot
half-bound
Half-breadth plan
half-bred
half-breed
half-brother
half-caste
half-century
half-clammed
half-clothed
half-cock
half-cracked
half-crazed
half-deck
half-decked
half-dozen
half-evergreen
half-faced
half-fish
half-free morel
half-hardy
half-hatched
half-heard
half-hearted
half-heartedly
half-holiday
half-hour
half-hourly
half-intensity
half-learned
half-length
half-life
half-light
half-mast
half-moon
half-pay
half-pike
half-pint
half-port
half-price
half-ray
half-read
half-relief
half-seas-over
half-sighted
half-sister
half-size
half-slip
half-staff
half-strained
half-sword
half-term
half-timber
half-timbered
half-time
half-tounue
half-track
half-tracked
half-truth
half-wit
half-witted
half-yearly
hell's half acre
In half
In, ∨ On, one's half
last half
one-half
second half
split-half correlation
time and a half
To cry halves
To go halves
To hang the flag half-mast high ∨ half-staff
To meet half way

A half cock

the position of the cock of a gun when retained by the first notch. half cocked: see below, halfcocked: = unprepared, lacking forethought; as in go off half cocked

Webster 1913

At half cock

. See under Half.

Webster 1913

Better half

noun a person's partner in marriage
partner; married person; spouse; mate.

WordNet

an expression used to designate one's wife.
My dear, my better half (said he), I find I must now leave thee. Sir P. Sidney.

Webster 1913

chance-half correlation

noun a correlation coefficient calculated between scores on two halves of a test; taken as an indication of the reliability of the test
chance-half correlation.

WordNet

first half

noun the first of two halves of play

WordNet

go off at half-cock

verb act prematurely or without reflection or too soon
go off at half-cock.
- she wanted to quit her job but her mother told her not to go off half-cocked

WordNet

go off half-cocked

verb act prematurely or without reflection or too soon
go off at half-cock.
- she wanted to quit her job but her mother told her not to go off half-cocked

WordNet

half a dozen

noun the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
sixer; sestet; Captain Hicks; hexad; sise; VI; six; sextet; 6; sextuplet.

WordNet

Half ape

(Zoöl.), a lemur.

Webster 1913

Half back

. (Football) See under 2d Back.

Webster 1913

Half bent

the first notch, for the sear point to enter, in the tumbler of a gunlock; the halfcock notch.

Webster 1913

Half binding

noun book binding in which the spine and part of the sides are bound in one material and the rest in another

WordNet

a style of bookbinding in which only the back and corners are in leather.

Webster 1913

half blood

noun one of siblings who have only one parent in common

WordNet

Half" blood`

Definitions

The relation between persons born of the same father or of the same mother, but not of both; as, a brother or sister of the half blood. See Blood, n., 2 and 4.
A person so related to another.
A person whose father and mother are of different races; a half-breed. ✍ In the 2d and 3d senses usually with a hyphen.

Webster 1913

Half boarder

one who boards in part; specifically, a scholar at a boarding school who takes dinner only.

Webster 1913

half boot

noun a boot reaching halfway up to the knee
desert boot; buskin; combat boot; top boot.

WordNet

half brother

noun a brother who has only one parent in common with you
half brother; stepbrother.

WordNet

Half cadence

(Mus.), a cadence on the dominant.

Webster 1913

Half cap

a slight salute with the cap. Obs. Shak.

Webster 1913

half cross stitch

noun a single cross stitch at a diagonal

WordNet

half crown

noun an English coin worth half a crown

WordNet

half dollar

noun a United States coin worth half of a dollar
fifty-cent piece.

WordNet

half door

noun an exterior door divided in two horizontally; either half can be closed or open independently
Dutch door.

WordNet

half dozen

adjective satellite denoting a quantity consisting of six items or units
vi; half dozen; six; 6.

WordNet

half eagle

noun a former gold coin in United States worth 5 dollars

WordNet

half gainer

noun a dive in which the diver throws the feet forward and up to complete a half backward somersault and enters the water facing the diving board

WordNet

half hatchet

noun a hatchet with a broad blade on one end and a hammer head of the other

WordNet

Half hitch

noun a knot used to fasten a rope temporarily to an object; usually tied double

WordNet

a sailor's knot in a rope; half of a clove hitch.

Webster 1913

Half hose

short stockings; socks.

Webster 1913

half life

noun the time required for something to fall to half its initial value (in particular, the time for half the atoms in a radioactive substance to disintegrate)
half life.

WordNet

half mask

noun a mask covering the upper part of the face but with holes for the eyes
domino; eye mask.

WordNet

Half measure

an imperfect or weak line of action.

Webster 1913

half mile

noun a unit of length equal to half of 1 mile
880 yards.

WordNet

half nelson

noun a wrestling hold in which the holder puts an arm under the opponent's arm and exerts pressure on the back of the neck

WordNet

Half note

noun a musical note having the time value of half a whole note
minim.

WordNet

(Mus.), a minim, one half of a semibreve.

Webster 1913

half page

noun something that covers (the top or bottom) half of a page

WordNet

Half pay

half of the wages or salary; reduced pay; as, an officer on half pay.

Webster 1913

half pound

noun 8 ounces avoirdupois

WordNet

Half price

half the ordinary price; or a price much reduced.

Webster 1913

half rest

noun a musical rest having the time value of half a whole rest or equal in duration to two beats in common time

WordNet

Half round

. (a) (Arch.) A molding of semicircular section. (b) (Mech.) Having one side flat and the other rounded; said of a file.

Webster 1913

half seas over

Half" seas` o`ver

Definitions

Half drunk. Slang: used only predicatively. Spectator.

Webster 1913

Half shift

(Mus.), a position of the hand, between the open position and the first shift, in playing on the violin and kindred instruments. See Shift.

Webster 1913

half sister

noun a sister who has only one parent in common with you
stepsister; half sister.

WordNet

half snipe

noun a small short-billed Old World snipe
Limnocryptes minima; jacksnipe.

WordNet

half sole

noun shoe sole extending from the shank to the toe

WordNet

Half step

noun the musical interval between adjacent keys on a keyboard instrument
semitone.

WordNet

(Mus.), a semitone; the smallest difference of pitch or interval, used in music.

Webster 1913

Half tide

the time or state of the tide equally distant from ebb and flood.

Webster 1913

Half time

half the ordinary time for work or attendance; as, the half-time system.

Webster 1913

Half tint

(Fine Arts), a middle or intermediate tint, as in drawing or painting. See Demitint.

Webster 1913

half title

noun a first page of some books displaying only the title of the book
bastard title.

WordNet

half track

noun a motor vehicle propelled by half tracks; frequently used by the military
noun a track that goes around only rear wheels

WordNet

Half truth

a statement only partially true, or which gives only a part of the truth. Mrs. Browning.

Webster 1913

half volley

noun a tennis return made by hitting the ball immediately after it bounces

WordNet

Half year

the space of six moths; one term of a school when there are two terms in a year.

Webster 1913

half-and-half

noun half milk and half light cream; contains 10% to 18% butterfat
adjective satellite in equal parts
- a half-and-half mixture
adverb in equal parts
- it was divided half-and-half

WordNet

Half`-and-half" noun

Definitions

A mixture of two malt liquors, esp. porter and ale, in about equal parts. Dickens.

Webster 1913

half-and-half dressing

noun half mayonnaise and half vinaigrette seasoned with minced garlic and mashed anchovies and grated Parmesan cheese; especially good for combination salads

WordNet

half-baked

adjective satellite foolish; totally unsound
crazy; softheaded; screwball.
- a crazy scheme
- half-baked ideas
- a screwball proposal without a prayer of working
adjective satellite insufficiently cooked
underdone.

WordNet

half-blooded

adjective satellite (of animals) having only one purebred parent
half-bred; half-blooded.

WordNet

Half"-blood`ed adjective

Definitions

Proceeding from a male and female of different breeds or races; having only one parent of good stock; as, a half-blooded sheep.
Degenerate; mean.

Webster 1913

half-boot

Half"-boot` noun

Definitions

A boot with a short top covering only the ankle. See Cocker, and Congress boot, under Congress.

Webster 1913

half-bound

adjective satellite (of books) having the back bound in one material and the sides in another

WordNet

Half"-bound` noun

Definitions

Having only the back and corners in leather, as a book.

Webster 1913

Half-breadth plan

(Shipbuilding), a horizontal plan of the half a vessel, divided lengthwise, showing the lines.

Webster 1913

half-bred

adjective satellite (of animals) having only one purebred parent
half-bred; half-blooded.

WordNet

Half"-bred` adjective

Definitions

Half-blooded. Obs.
Imperfectly acquainted with the rules of good-breeding; not well trained. Atterbury.

Webster 1913

half-breed

noun an offensive term for an offspring of parents of different races (especially of Caucasian and American Indian ancestry)
adjective satellite (of animals) having only one purebred parent
half-bred; half-blooded.

WordNet

Half"-breed` adjective

Definitions

Half-blooded.

Half"-breed` noun

Definitions

A person who is blooded; the offspring of parents of different races, especially of the American Indian and the white race.

Webster 1913

half-brother

noun a brother who has only one parent in common with you
half brother; stepbrother.

WordNet

Half"-broth`er noun

Definitions

A brother by one parent, but not by both.

Webster 1913

half-caste

noun an offensive term for the offspring of parents of different races or cultures

WordNet

Half"-caste` noun

Definitions

One born of a European parent on the one side, and of a Hindoo or Mohammedan on the other. Also adjective; as, half-caste parents.

Webster 1913

half-century

noun a period of 50 years

WordNet

half-clammed

Half"-clammed` adjective

Definitions

Half-filled. Obs.
Lions' half-clammed entrails roar food. Marston.

Webster 1913

half-clothed

adjective satellite inadequately clothed
underclothed; scantily clad.

WordNet

half-cock

noun confusion resulting from lack of preparation

WordNet

half-cracked

Half"-cracked` adjective

Definitions

Half-demented; half-witted. Colloq.

Webster 1913

half-crazed

adjective satellite driven insane
crazed; deranged.

WordNet

half-deck

Half"-deck` noun

Definitions

(Zoöl.) A shell of the genus Crepidula; a boat shell. See Boat shell.
See Half deck, under Deck.

Webster 1913

half-decked

Half"-decked` adjective

Definitions

Partially decked.
The half-decked craft . . . used by the latter Vikings. Elton.

Webster 1913

half-dozen

adjective satellite denoting a quantity consisting of six items or units
vi; half dozen; six; 6.

WordNet

half-evergreen

adjective satellite of a plant that is incompletely evergreen
semi-evergreen.
- it was evergreen where the weather was mild but deciduous in the rigorous parts of the range

WordNet

half-faced

Half"-faced` adjective

Definitions

Showing only part of the face; wretched looking; meager. Shak.

Webster 1913

half-fish

Half"-fish` noun

Definitions

(Zoöl.) A salmon in its fifth year of growth. Prov. Eng.

Webster 1913

half-free morel

noun a morel with the ridged and pitted fertile portion attached to the stipe for about half its length
cow's head; Morchella semilibera.

WordNet

half-hardy

adjective satellite (of plants) requiring protection from frost
- half-hardy annuals

WordNet

half-hatched

Half"-hatched` adjective

Definitions

Imperfectly hatched; as, half-hatched eggs. Gay.

Webster 1913

half-heard

Half"-heard` adjective

Definitions

Imperfectly or partly heard to the end.
And leave half-heard the melancholy tale. Pope.

Webster 1913

half-hearted

adjective satellite feeling or showing little interest or enthusiasm
tepid; halfhearted; lukewarm.
- a halfhearted effort
- gave only lukewarm support to the candidate

WordNet

Half"-heart`ed adjective

Definitions

Wanting in heart or spirit; ungenerous; unkind. B. Jonson.
Lacking zeal or courage; lukewarm. (of actions) not performed with full effort H. James.

Webster 1913

half-heartedly

adverb without enthusiasm; in a half-hearted manner
- she tried half-heartedly

WordNet

half-holiday

noun a day on which half is free from work or duty

WordNet

half-hour

noun a half of an hour
30 minutes.

WordNet

half-hourly

adjective satellite occurring ever half hour
adverb every thirty minutes, every half hour

WordNet

Half"-hour`ly adjective

Definitions

Done or happening at intervals of half an hour.

Webster 1913

half-intensity

noun half the maximum intensity

WordNet

half-learned

Half"-learned` adjective

Definitions

Imperfectly learned.

Webster 1913

half-length

noun a portrait showing the body from only the waist up
adjective satellite representing only the upper half of the body
- a half-length portrait
adjective satellite abridged to half its original length

WordNet

Half"-length` adjective

Definitions

Of half the whole or ordinary length, as a picture.

Webster 1913

half-life

noun the time required for something to fall to half its initial value (in particular, the time for half the atoms in a radioactive substance to disintegrate)
half life.

WordNet

half-light

noun a greyish light (as at dawn or dusk or in dim interiors)

WordNet

half-mast

noun a position some distance below the top of a mast to which a flag is lowered in mourning or to signal distress
half-mast.

WordNet

Half"-mast` noun

Definitions

A point some distance below the top of a mast or staff; as, a flag a half-mast (a token of mourning, etc.).

Webster 1913

half-moon

noun the crescent-shaped area at the base of the human fingernail
lunula; lunule.
noun the time at which the Moon is at first or last quarter when half its face is illuminated

WordNet

Half"-moon` noun

Definitions

The moon at the quarters, when half its disk appears illuminated.
The shape of a half-moon; a crescent.
See how in warlike muster they appear, In rhombs, and wedges, and half-moons, and wings. Milton.
(Fort.) An outwork composed of two faces, forming a salient angle whose gorge resembles a half-moon; -- now called a ravelin.
(Zoöl.) A marine, sparoid, food fish of California (Cæsiosoma Californiense). The body is ovate, blackish above, blue or gray below. Called also medialuna.

Webster 1913

half-pay

noun reduced wage paid to someone who is not working full time

WordNet

half-pike

Half"-pike` noun

Definitions

(Mil.) A short pike, sometimes carried by officers of infantry, sometimes used in boarding ships; a spontoon. Tatler.

Webster 1913

half-pint

noun disparaging terms for small people
peewee; runt; shrimp.

WordNet

half-port

Half"-port` noun

Definitions

(Naut.) One half of a shutter made in two parts for closing a porthole.

Webster 1913

half-price

adverb for half the price
- she bought it half-price during the sale

WordNet

half-ray

Half"-ray` noun

Definitions

(Geom.) A straight line considered as drawn from a center to an indefinite distance in one direction, the complete ray being the whole line drawn to an indefinite distance in both directions.

Webster 1913

half-read

Half"-read` adjective

Definitions

Informed by insufficient reading; superficial; shallow. Dryden.

Webster 1913

half-relief

noun a sculptural relief between low relief and high relief
mezzo-rilievo; mezzo-relievo.

WordNet

half-seas-over

adjective satellite British informal for `intoxicated'

WordNet

half-sighted

Half"-sight`ed adjective

Definitions

Seeing imperfectly; having weak discernment. Bacon.

Webster 1913

half-sister

noun a sister who has only one parent in common with you
stepsister; half sister.

WordNet

Half"-sis`ter noun

Definitions

A sister by one parent only.

Webster 1913

half-size

adjective satellite half the usual or regular size

WordNet

half-slip

noun undergarment worn under a skirt
underskirt; petticoat.

WordNet

half-staff

noun a position some distance below the top of a mast to which a flag is lowered in mourning or to signal distress
half-mast.

WordNet

half-strained

Half"-strained` adjective

Definitions

Half-bred; imperfect. R. "A half-strained villain." Dryden.

Webster 1913

half-sword

Half"-sword` noun

Definitions

Half the length of a sword; close fight. "At half-sword." Shak.

Webster 1913

half-term

noun a short vacation about halfway through a school term
- he came to visit at half-term

WordNet

half-timber

adjective satellite having exposed wood framing with spaces filled with masonry, as in Tudor architecture
half-timber.

WordNet

half-timbered

adjective satellite having exposed wood framing with spaces filled with masonry, as in Tudor architecture
half-timber.

WordNet

Half"-tim`bered adjective

Definitions

(Arch.) Constructed of a timber frame, having the spaces filled in with masonry; -- said of buildings.

Webster 1913

half-time

adjective satellite involving half the standard or customary time for an activity
- he had two years of half-time training
adverb for less than the standard number of hours
part-time.
- he works part-time

WordNet

half-tounue

Half"-tounue` noun

Definitions

(O. Law) A jury, for the trial of a fore foreigner, composed equally of citizens and aliens.

Webster 1913

half-track

adjective satellite having caterpillar treads on the rear and wheels in front
half-track.
- half-track armored vehicles

WordNet

half-tracked

adjective satellite having caterpillar treads on the rear and wheels in front
half-track.
- half-track armored vehicles

WordNet

half-truth

noun a partially true statement intended to deceive or mislead

WordNet

half-wit

noun a person of subnormal intelligence
retard; idiot; imbecile; changeling; moron; cretin.
noun a stupid incompetent person
nitwit; dimwit; doofus.

WordNet

Half"-wit` noun

Definitions

A foolish; a dolt; a blockhead; a dunce. Dryden.

Webster 1913

half-witted

adjective satellite retarded in intellectual development
feebleminded; backward; slow-witted.

WordNet

Half"-wit`ted adjective

Definitions

Weak in intellect; silly.

Webster 1913

half-yearly

adjective satellite occurring or payable twice each year
biyearly; semiannual; biannual.
adverb every half year, every six months

WordNet

Half"-year`ly adjective

Definitions

Two in a year; semiannual. -- adv. Twice in a year; semiannually.

Webster 1913

hell's half acre

noun a district in Manhattan formerly noted for its slums and vice
Hell's Kitchen.

WordNet

In half

in two; an expression sometimes used improperly instead of in ∨ into halves; as, to cut in half. Colloq. Dickens.

Webster 1913

In, ∨ On, one's half

in one's behalf; on one's part. Obs.

Webster 1913

last half

noun the second of two halves of play
last half.

WordNet

one-half

noun one of two equal parts of a divisible whole
half.
- half a loaf
- half an hour
- a century and one half

WordNet

second half

noun the second of two halves of play
last half.

WordNet

split-half correlation

noun a correlation coefficient calculated between scores on two halves of a test; taken as an indication of the reliability of the test
chance-half correlation.

WordNet

time and a half

noun a rate of pay that is 1.5 times the regular rate; for overtime work

WordNet

To cry halves

to claim an equal share with another.

Webster 1913

To go halves

to share equally between two.

Webster 1913

To hang the flag half-mast high ∨ half-staff

to raise it only half way to the mast or staff, as a token or sign of mourning.

Webster 1913

To meet half way

literally, to go half the distance between in order to meet (one); hence, figuratively, to yield or concede half of the difference in order to effect a compromise or reconciliation with.