English Explanatory Dictionary

half the battle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

phrase
  1. A large part of what it takes to accomplish something.

Word forms

half the battle

Etymology

A figure of speech that goes back centuries. Although the collocation knowing is half the battle long predates the G.I. Joe cartoon series, its pop-culture ubiquity in the 21st century is explained by that popularization.

Related words

half the story the more you know you don't know the half of it
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