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divide and conquer

Idioms

Also,. Win by getting one's opponents to fight among themselves. For example, Divide and conquer was once a very successful policy in sub-Saharan Africa. This expression is a translation of the Latin maxim, Divide et impera (“divide and rule”), and began to appear in English about 1600.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Harris said while some use fear to divide and conquer, the animals demonstrated the power of standing together.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2025

Super fans divide and conquer by organising themselves into teams to navigate the rules for each platform.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2024

You can then tell him you absolutely need both of you to divide and conquer on these tasks moving forward.

From Slate • Oct. 12, 2023

At the end of day, your daughter isn’t responsible for pleasing you or taking care of your mental health, so talk to your partner, and plan how to divide and conquer.

From Washington Post • Oct. 19, 2022

It all fit in nicely with the packers’ goal to divide and conquer.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023