meet (you) halfway
Meaning(s)
1. compromise with someone to help reach a settlement
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
meet someone halfway to seal a deal/resolve a conflict
Analysis
When you agree to 'meet someone halfway' you agree to compromise or to negotiate in order to come to an agreement or to reach a deal. This expression can be used even if the compromise isn't literally 'halfway' and also in social transactions as well as professional ones. "Ok, I'll meet you halfway, if you can make dinner, I'll get the groceries on the way home."
Social Examples (Basic)
- Meeting someone halfway rather than insisting that you are right is the best way of resolving an argument. It allows both sides to feel as though their point of view has been considered.
- My son has been asking for a mobile phone for months. Finally, I gave in and met him halfway, he is only allowed to use it for a few hours each day.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- When I asked my boss for a raise, he said that he would be willing to give me an extra 5,000 a year, but I wanted 10. In the end, we agreed to meet halfway by settling on 7,500.
- As a customer advocate, you need to do more than meet your clients halfway you have to be on their side at all times.
Professional Examples (Advance)
- At the end of a tough round of negotiations, the suppliers accepted some of the terms I had laid out in order to help get the deal over the line. I showed that I was willing to meet them halfway by agreeing to some of theirs in return. It wasn't long before we sealed the deal.