half the battle

Idioms  

1. A successful beginning, as in You've got the shopping list done—that's half the battle. This expression is an abbreviation of an 18th-century proverb, “The first blow is half the battle.”

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Example Sentences

Showing up at those places is half the battle, really.

From Slate

In any case, I’m glad to see Conan back — he brings a great side-eye energy to the proceedings and seems perfectly at home on that big, sumptuously dressed stage, which is half the battle.

From Los Angeles Times

Staying focused on numbers is half the battle, Mikula said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Charities believe finding people accommodation is only half the battle.

From BBC

The trouble was that beating Sinner was only half the battle.

From The Wall Street Journal