going halves
/ˈɡoʊɪŋ hævz/
CommonSplitting a cost exactly 50/50 between two people.
Mostly used in two-person contexts. In group settings, people usually say 'split it' instead. The phrase is more common in British and Australian English than American.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | we always go halves on dinner no matter who picks the place | Both people split meals equally as a standing rule. | reddit, 2023 |
| 02 | went halves on the uber home and she still texted me after so i think it went well | A 50/50 split on the ride home did not affect the date outcome. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | want to go halves on a big pizza or are you not that hungry | Proposing to share a pizza and split the cost equally. | |
| 04 | i go halves on everything with my boyfriend and some people act like that's a crime | The speaker splits expenses equally with their partner despite social judgment. | tiktok, 2024 |
Use it when
- Two people are splitting any shared cost equally.
- You want to confirm a 50/50 split before paying.
- Two friends or partners splitting a bill at a restaurant.
Do not use it when
- More than two people are involved.Use “splitting the bill” instead.
- Each person wants to pay for exactly what they ordered.Use “dutch-treat” instead.
Variations and related forms
Going halves vs Dutch treat
going halves
Going halves splits the total in two equal parts.
VS
dutch-treat
Dutch treat means each person pays for exactly what they ordered.
Origin and context
A common British and Australian English phrase for a 50/50 split. Has been in use since at least the mid-20th century in informal contexts.
- First seen
- mid-20th century
- Confidence
- low
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/going-halvesUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0