English idiom

half the battle

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

the most important part of achieving something

Why this phrase?

A battle is pictured as already partly won once the hardest first move is made; the hardest part counts as half the victory.

Example

“Getting an interview is half the battle in this industry.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

smooth sailing

easy, uninterrupted progress without problems

break the back of

to get past the main obstacle so that the remaining work becomes easier

go for broke

to stake everything on one final effort to win or succeed

make a go of

to turn an undertaking into a lasting success

make light work of

to handle a demanding task quickly and effortlessly

make short work of

to finish a task or overcome an opponent with surprising speed and ease

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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