fifty-fifty

American  

[fif-tee-fif-tee] / ˈfɪf tiˈfɪf ti /

Or 50-50

adjective

1. equally good and bad, likely and unlikely, favorable and unfavorable, etc..

   a fifty-fifty chance of winning.

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adverb

1. in an evenly or equally divided way.

   The board voted fifty-fifty on the merger.

idioms

1. go fifty-fifty (on), to share equally in the cost, responsibility, or profits (of ).

   We went fifty-fifty on the dinner check.

fifty-fifty British  

adjective

1. informal shared or sharing equally; in equal parts

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fifty-fifty More Idioms  

1. see under under go halves.

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Etymology

Origin of fifty-fifty

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Example Sentences

He practiced what Mr. Leeke calls “the fifty-fifty defense”: When he was unsure of a call, he had a 50% chance of guessing correctly.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I computed the statistics,” he says, “and decided it was fifty-fifty.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“You could lose all your money or multiply it 20 times—and the chance was fifty-fifty,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Squid born in early July had a fifty-fifty chance of using either tactic.

From Science Daily

He said there is “a fifty-fifty chance for missionary Baek’s release as Russia won’t give up relations with South Korea completely.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• accommodation
• accord
• adjustment
• arrangement
• bargain
• concession
• deal
• pact
• settlement
• understanding