Meaning of do by halves | Babel Free

Definitions

To perform (a task, etc) partially or incompletely; to do (something) inadequately, halfheartedly, or shoddily.

idiomatic, transitive

Examples

“[A] pedestrian tour of Europe could not be complete⟳ without them. Of course that decided me at once to see⟳ them, for I never allow⟳ myself to do things by halves, or in a slurring, slipshod way.”

“Rin-Tin-Tin does nothing by halves, for he tracks the murderer himself and kills him.”

“Never do anything by halves if you want⟳ to get⟳ away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog!”

“If there was one word to describe⟳ her, it was "intense" - so well chosen in her brother Michael's moving eulogy. Nothing, absolutely nothing was done by halves. . . . Her commitment was total.”

CEFR level