by halves

== English == === Pronunciation === === Prepositional phrase === by halves (idiomatic, chiefly in the negative) Partially, incompletely; inadequately, halfheartedly, shoddily. 2006 Sept. 24, Gareth Chadwick, "Far-flung business: Making all the right moves, The Independent (UK) (retrieved 5 March 2014): They don't do things by halves in the States. Whether it is cars, burgers or waistlines, Americans like to think bigger. ==== Derived terms ==== do by halves ==== See also ==== by half === References === “by halves”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.