divide and conquer

Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

divide and conquer

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

Now, the couple — who has an 8-month-old son named Vern, as well as three dogs and a cat — often divide and conquer the business.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 10, 2023

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