half a loaf

half a loaf
less than what is wanted or is right.

I didn't get everything I wanted in my contract but decided to accept half a loaf and not fight it.

Usage notes: the full form of this idiom is half a loaf is better than none - getting less than what you wanted is better than getting nothing:

The new ferry service operates only on weekends, but half a loaf is better than none.

Etymology: based on the idea that it is better to have some bread to eat than none at all

New idioms dictionary. 2014.

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  • half\ a\ loaf\ is\ better\ than\ no\ bread — • half a loaf is better than none • half a loaf is better than no bread proverb Part of what we want or need is better than nothing. Albert wanted two dollars for shoveling snow from the sidewalk but the lady would only give him a dollar. And he… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • half\ a\ loaf\ is\ better\ than\ none — • half a loaf is better than none • half a loaf is better than no bread proverb Part of what we want or need is better than nothing. Albert wanted two dollars for shoveling snow from the sidewalk but the lady would only give him a dollar. And he… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • half a loaf is better than no bread — ► half a loaf is better than no bread proverb it is better to accept less than one wants or expects than to have nothing at all. Main Entry: ↑loaf …   English terms dictionary

  • half a loaf is better than no bread — It means that getting part of what you want is better than getting nothing at all …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • half a loaf is better than no bread — half a ˌloaf is better than no ˈbread idiom (saying) you should be grateful for sth, even if it is not as good, much, etc. as you really wanted; something is better than nothing Main entry: ↑halfidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • Half a Loaf of Kung Fu — Infobox Film name = Half a Loaf of Kung Fu caption = UK DVD cover director = Chen Chi Hwa producer = Lo Wei Hsu Li Hwa writer = Jackie Chan Tang Ming Chi narrator = starring = Jackie Chan Dean Shek James Tien Elvis Tsui Wu Ma music = Frankie Chan …   Wikipedia

  • half a loaf is better than no bread — Similar in sense to something is better than nothing. 1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs I. xi. D4v Throwe no gyft agayne at the giuers head, For better is halfe a lofe then no bread. 1636 W. CAMDEN Remains concerning Britain (ed. 5) 297 Halfe… …   Proverbs new dictionary

  • half a loaf is better than none — or[half a loaf is better than no bread] Part of what we want or need is better than nothing. A proverb. * /Albert wanted two dollars for shoveling snow from the sidewalk but the lady would only give him a dollar. And he said that half a loaf is… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • half a loaf is better than none — or[half a loaf is better than no bread] Part of what we want or need is better than nothing. A proverb. * /Albert wanted two dollars for shoveling snow from the sidewalk but the lady would only give him a dollar. And he said that half a loaf is… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Half a loaf is better than none. — something that you say which means it is better to take what you are offered, even if it is less than you wanted, because it is better than nothing. I only got half the salary rise I asked for, but I took it anyway on the grounds that half a loaf …   New idioms dictionary

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