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Split the baby in half

Posted by Brian from Shawnee on August 01, 2008 at 19:20

In Reply to: Split the baby in half posted by FMSS on August 01, 2008 at 06:53:

: What does "split the baby in half" mean exactly? What is the origin? Is it a reference to King Solomon? If so, why does it seem that it is used in situations where two parties share in some type of bounty (e.g. where a judge doesn't give either party what it seeks, but instead reaches a result somewhere in the middle). This is not the result in the King Solomon story.

It sounds like you've answered your own question. A judge can split a sum of money in half and each party gets something. Can't do that with a baby, as King Solomon knew.

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