split the baby
verbEtymology In reference to the Judgment of Solomon.
1
Idiomatic To resolve a dispute in a way that is disadvantageous to both parties.
- As the proposal evolved, it is clear that the authors tried to split the baby—benefits would be linked to the worker's covered earnings, out of which contributions would be made, but there would be some subsidization.2012, Sylvester J. Schieber, The Predictable Surprise:
- Related terms
- Solomonic, split the difference