- halves⇄expr. by halves,
a. not completely; partly.
Ex. The poor farmer was forced to pay his bills by halves.
b. (Figurative.) imperfectly; in a half-hearted way.
Ex. Nadir, who did nothing by halves, was determined to pull off the mas - halves⇄expr. go halves, to share equally.
Ex. Those that save themselves, and fly, go halves, at least, in the Victory (Samuel Butler). - halves⇄halves, noun.
more than one half; plural of half. Two halves make one whole.