medium

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find a happy medium

To discover, develop, or contrive a healthy balance compromise or acceptable compromise between two extremes. It can be difficult for working mothers to find a happy medium between maintaining their careers and caring for their families. The mediator's role is to help both parties to reach a deal that finds a happy medium. If they're not happy with our offer, let's resume discussions. I'm confident that we can find a happy medium.

for the short/medium/long term

For a short/medium/long period of time in the future. It's an adequate solution for the short term, maybe even for the medium term, but it won't fix the problem for the long term. A: "Wow, you've been with the company for 20 years?" B: "Yes, and I was hired as a temp, so I never expected to be here for the long term!" Glue might be a solution for the short term, as long as no one pulls too hard on the knob.

See also: for, long, medium, short, term

happy medium

A healthy balance between two extremes. It can be difficult for working mothers to find a happy medium between maintaining their careers and caring for their families. Some people will argue ardently against ever consuming alcohol, but to me, I think a happy medium is just fine. Sure, you can still have sweets sometimes. I'm just asking you to consider more of a happy medium.

See also: happy, medium

hit a happy medium

To discover, develop, or contrive a healthy balance compromise or acceptable compromise between two extremes. It can be difficult for working mothers to hit a happy medium between maintaining their careers and caring for their families. The mediator's role is to help both parties to reach a deal that hits a happy medium. If they're not happy with our offer, let's resume discussions. I'm confident that we can hit a happy medium.

in the short/medium/long term

During a short/medium/long period of time in the future. It's an adequate solution in the short term, maybe even in the medium term, but it won't fix the problem in the long term. A quick fix isn't going to work here. How can we deal with this problem in the long term? Yeah, I can get your car up and running in the short term, but I wouldn't trust the battery you've got for much longer.

over easy

Of a fried chicken's egg, cooked thoroughly on one side and very lightly on the other so that the yolk remains very runny. Could I have hash browns, sausages, beans, and two eggs over easy, please?

over hard

Of a fried chicken's egg, cooked thoroughly on both sides so that the yolk is not runny at all. I really hate runny yolks, so I always have my eggs over hard.

over medium

Of a fried chicken's egg, cooked thoroughly on one side and partially on the other so that the yolk is a bit runny in the center. Mary likes her eggs over easy, but I prefer mine over medium.

strike a happy medium

To discover, develop, or contrive a healthy balance compromise or acceptable compromise between two extremes. It can be difficult for working mothers to strike a happy medium between maintaining their careers and caring for their families. The mediator's role is to help both parties to reach a deal that strikes a happy medium.

the medium is the message

The mode through which a message is transmitted influences how the message is received. The phrase was coined by 20th-century philosopher Marshall McLuhan. In studying this painting, we can't ignore the style that the artist chose. The medium is the message.

over easy

Fig. [of eggs] turned carefully during cooking. I want mine cooked over easy. Over easy eggs are better than scrambled.

strike a happy medium

and hit a happy medium; find a happy medium

to find a compromise position; to arrive at a position halfway between two unacceptable extremes. Ann likes very spicy food, but Bob doesn't care for spicy food at all. We are trying to find a restaurant that strikes a happy medium. Tom is either very happy or very sad. He can't seem to hit a happy medium.

happy medium

The midway point between two extremes. For example, We need to find a happy medium between overdoing the holiday season and ignoring it entirely . This expression, first recorded in 1778, was once known as the golden mean and is based on ancient mathematical principles.

See also: happy, medium

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

a happy medium

COMMON A happy medium is something that is successful or pleasant because it avoids being extreme. Here you have the freedom to be energetic, lazy or strike a happy medium in between. Tours like his provide a happy medium between protecting the sea-life and giving holidaymakers a unique experience.

See also: happy, medium

a/the happy ˈmedium

a sensible balance between two extremes: I like to know my colleagues well, but not too well. The sort of friendship I have with them now is a happy medium. ♢ In life generally we should try to find the happy medium. Extreme solutions to problems always lead to difficulties.

See also: happy, medium

ˌover ˈeasy/ˈmedium/ˈhard

(American English) (used about eggs) fried on both sides for a short time/for a moderate length of time/for a longer time: I’ll have two eggs over easy and a cup of coffee, please.

in the ˈlong/ˈmedium/ˈshort term

used to describe what will happen a long/medium/short time into the future: In the short term, we can send the refugees food and clothing, but in the long term we must do something about the underlying problems. ▶ ˌlong-ˈterm, ˌshort-ˈterm adj.: a long-term approach ♢ short-term problems