Halfway house

/hˈɑːfweɪ hˈaʊs/

/hˈæfweɪ hˈaʊs/

[noun]

Halfway house

[NOUN]

the middle stage or point in a process of achieving a desired result

What is the origin of the idiom "halfway house" and when to use it?

The idiom "halfway house" originally referred to a place where prisoners were housed as part of their transition from prison to full release. Over time, the term has gained a metaphorical meaning to represent the middle stage or point in a process of achieving a desired result. It implies being partially or halfway towards reaching a goal or objective.

a place to rest or stay temporarily during a journey, especially a long or tiring one

a transitional living facility where individuals who are recovering from addiction, mental illness, or other challenging situations can reside temporarily as they transition back into the community

something with a mixture of the different qualities of two separate things

Examples

1. I'm in a halfway house.

2. They go back to the halfway house.

3. I get out of the halfway house this summer.

4. Like, this is by no means any type of halfway house.

Nearby words