half the battle

phrase

: an important and necessary part of doing or achieving something

I think you will prosper, for the sincere wish to be good is half the battle.

—Louisa May Alcott

In the positioning war, half the battle is picking the right enemy.

—Ted Morgan

—often used with words like only and just to stress that something is not enough by itself to achieve a desired goal

Selecting which partners and investors to woo is only half the battle. Knowing how to pitch them is equally important.

—Michelle Goodman

Examples of half the battle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Earning airline miles and hotel points is only half the battle. — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2026

But having realistic expectations—and knowing things will not go according to plan—is half the battle. — Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 27 Sep. 2026

Why your response history can be so valuable For a scammer, finding someone willing to respond can be half the battle. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

But bringing people in is only half the battle, explained Tighe. — Jennie Bell, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for half the battle

• striatal
• battel
• brattle
• cattle
• chattel
• prattle
• rattle
• tattle