4 half
Function:
adverbMeaning:
1 : to an extent that is equal or nearly equal to half of something ▪ The glass of water is half full/empty. ▪ The crowd was half cheering and half jeering. ▪ She's half French and half Italian. [=one of her parents is French and the other is Italian] ▪ The meeting began at half past two. [=at 2:30] = (Brit) The meeting began at half two. ▪ We arrived at the station at noon, and the train departed at half past. [=at 12:30] ▪ The train departed at half past the hour.
2 : not completely : to some degree : partially ▪ He was only half aware of what was happening. ▪ She had half persuaded me to stay. ▪ The door was half open. ▪ These eggs are only half cooked. ▪ I was half asleep [=very tired; not completely awake] when you called. ▪ She looked half dead. [=she looked very tired/ill]
2 : not completely : to some degree : partially ▪ He was only half aware of what was happening. ▪ She had half persuaded me to stay. ▪ The door was half open. ▪ These eggs are only half cooked. ▪ I was half asleep [=very tired; not completely awake] when you called. ▪ She looked half dead. [=she looked very tired/ill]
half again as much/many (etc.) as (US) or Brit half as much/many (etc.) again as
—used to say that the size or amount of one thing is 50 percent more than another ▪ If 100 people were expected and 150 came, half again as many people came as were expected. ▪ This dress costs half again as much as that one.
half as big/much/good (etc.) as
—used to say that the size, amount, or quality of one thing is half or nearly half that of another ▪ The bush is half as tall as the tree. [=the tree is twice as tall as the bush] ▪ This dress costs half as much as that one. ▪ If 100 people were expected and 50 came, only half as many people came as were expected. ▪ If he can play the guitar half as well as he can sing, he should have quite a career. [=he will have a very successful career if he can play the guitar well, even if he doesn't play as well as he sings] ▪ The sequel isn't half as good as the original movie. [=the original movie was much better than the sequel]
half off
—used to say that something is being sold at half the original price ▪ Peaches are half off today.
not half
1 : not nearly ▪ He's not half the fool you think he is. = He's not half so foolish as you think he is. [=he is much smarter than you think he is] ▪ an aging baseball player who is not half the hitter he once was [=he is not nearly as good as a hitter as he once was]
2 Brit informal —used to emphasize a statement or description ▪ She doesn't half swear! [=she swears a lot] ▪ It's not half cold today! [=it is very cold today] ▪ “Is it cold out?” “Not half!” [=yes, it is very cold]
2 Brit informal —used to emphasize a statement or description ▪ She doesn't half swear! [=she swears a lot] ▪ It's not half cold today! [=it is very cold today] ▪ “Is it cold out?” “Not half!” [=yes, it is very cold]
not half bad
informal : surprisingly good ▪ Her singing was not half bad. [=not bad at all] ▪ The food there is not half bad. [=pretty good]