half-and-half

American  

[haf-uhn-haf, hahf-uhn-hahf] / ˈhæf ənˈhæf, ˈhɑf ənˈhɑf /

noun

1. a mixture of two things, especially in equal or nearly equal proportions.

2. milk and light cream combined in equal parts, especially for table use.

3. Chiefly British. a mixture of two malt liquors, especially porter and ale.

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adjective

1. half one thing and half another.

adverb

1. in two equal parts.

half-and-half British  

noun

1. a mixture of half one thing and half another thing

2. a drink consisting of equal parts of beer and stout, or equal parts of bitter and mild

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adjective

1. of half one thing and half another thing

adverb

1. in two equal parts

Etymology

Origin of half-and-half

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

Villa supporter Adam Selway turned up for the match wearing a half-and-half scarf in the colours of the home side and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

From BBC • Nov. 6, 2025

Options range from iced coffee with protein powder to the Annihilator, with chocolate macadamia-nut syrup and half-and-half.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025

I like adding a splash of dairy — cream, half-and-half or even buttermilk — to soften the cream cheese and create a silkier texture.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2025

Whole milk costs 3 to 5 cents per fluid ounce, while half-and-half costs between 9 and 19 cents and heavy cream 17 to 32 cents an ounce, according to the lawsuit.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2024

Sometimes Pollux alone is held to be divine, and Castor a mortal who won a kind of half-and-half immortality merely because of his brother’s love.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Related Words

• accommodation
• accord
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• arrangement
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