To split meaning in English
Learn how to use To split correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
to split: to divide, to separate, to part; to open, to break, to burst, to rupture, to rip
I split my pants the other day because they were too small for me. They burst open as soon as I sat down and made a big hole.
Do you want to split this cake with me? We can divide it into two pieces if you like.
a split decision a divided decision (in boxing)
Other meanings:
to split to leave, to depart (I have to split)
to split up to separate from a partner, to end a relationship
to split the difference to agree on an amount in the middle of the difference between two other amounts
a split personality a double personality, a double character
This is an irregular verb:
I split / I split / I have split
Examples
- "I ate so much I nearly split my pants."
- "The rugby world seems to be split into two camps: those teams in the Northern hemisphere and those originating from the South, notably the South Africans, the Australians and the legendary All Blacks from New Zealand."
Exercise 1
Mr. Laughsalot says, "Alright soldiers, the first thing we're going to do is split up into teams of two".
Choose all the sentences below that use the phrasal verb "split up" correctly.
Be careful, there may be more than one correct response!
Choose all the sentences below that use the phrasal verb "split up" correctly.
Be careful, there may be more than one correct response!
Mr. Laughsalot says, "Alright soldiers, the first thing we're going to do is split up into teams of two".
Choose all the sentences below that use the phrasal verb "split up" correctly.
Be careful, there may be more than one correct response!
Choose all the sentences below that use the phrasal verb "split up" correctly.
Be careful, there may be more than one correct response!
This is one correct use of the phrasal verb "to split up". Here it means to separate, or to end a romantic relationship. Note that in the Lawrence's speech he is using the verb to express the sense of dividing, and not ending a relationship.
This is one correct use of the phrasal verb "to split up". Here the verb indicates a division (of labor). This is the same sense in which Lawrence uses the term in the dialogue.
This sentence has no ostensible meaning. The verb "to split up" cannot be used to indicate that one will "analyze" or "examine" a topic.
The expression "to split hairs" is a legitimate way to refer to analyzing things in too much detail, however this expression uses the simple verb "to split", and not the phrasal verb "to split up".
Exercise 2
"I ate so much I nearly split my pants."
Complete the sentence below to express the same meaning as Kevin's line in the dialogue.
I ate so much I my pants.
Complete the sentence below to express the same meaning as Kevin's line in the dialogue.
I ate so much I my pants.
"I ate so much I nearly split my pants."
Complete the sentence below to express the same meaning as Kevin's line in the dialogue.
I ate so much I almost 1 ripped 2 my pants.
Complete the sentence below to express the same meaning as Kevin's line in the dialogue.
I ate so much I almost 1 ripped 2 my pants.
1 almost: "Almost" and "nearly" are synonymous in this context and most others. Both terms express the sense of "coming close" to doing something, or "all but" completing an action, but not. Kevin is saying that he "came close" to splitting his pants, but in the end, he didn't actually split his pants.
1 barely: Although the term "barely" is often synonymous with "nearly", using the term here would indicate that Kevin did split his pants, but just a little bit, which is not the case. We use the term "barely" to indicate the extent or degree of a feeling, action or thought, however is cannot be used here.
1 completely: When Kevin says that he "nearly" split his pants, he means that he "almost" did, but no splitting actually happened. Nearly and completely don't express the same meaning.
2 ripped: "To split one's pants" is to tear the fabric of their pants. We often say "I nearly split my pants" to express that we have eaten a lot. The verb "to split" means to "rip" or "to tear" in this context.
2 broke: The verb "to break" isn't used to describe "ripping" or "tearing" the fabric of an article clothing. "Broken" is generally reserved to describe "objects" (machines, toys, even bones) which are damaged or not working. One cannot break a pair of pants.
2 divided: In other context, "to split" is synonymous with "to divide". The verb "to divide" cannot be used to describe the "tearing" or "splitting" of a pair of pants however. In a different context, we might "split" a piece of cake, or split the bill in half, which means to divide the cake, and the bill.
Exercise 3
Select the TRUE statements from the list below.
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
Select the TRUE statements from the list below.
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
This is an incorrect choice. The "All Blacks" is the name of the legendary, or very famous, team from New Zealand!
This is a correct choice. The rugby fan says, "The northern teams really want to establish themselves as the southern teams have historically dominated." To "dominate" means to "control by superior power", meaning that these southern rugby teams have "historically", or throughout history, been superior to the northern teams.
This is a correct choice. Rupert says, "The rugby world seems to be split into two camps: those teams in the Northern hemisphere and those originating from the South." The verb "to split" has several meanings. In this context it means "to divide". Rupert claims that teams from the North and South are traditional rivals, or enemies.
This is an incorrect choice. Rupert mentions that the South African and Australian teams are part of the Southern hemisphere teams, but does not say whether he thinks they are good or bad. (In fact, the rugby fan tells Rupert that the southern teams have been "historically dominant").
This is an incorrect choice. Rupert says that rugby rivalries are split (or divided) between the Northern and Southern hemispheres. He does not mention Northern and Southern Europe.
Exercise 4
'I ate so much I nearly split my pants.'
This could also be expressed as:
'I ate so much I my pants.'
'The figures you quoted in your emails are very intriguing.'
This could also be expressed as:
'The you in your emails are very .'
This could also be expressed as:
'I ate so much I my pants.'
'The figures you quoted in your emails are very intriguing.'
This could also be expressed as:
'The you in your emails are very .'
'I ate so much I nearly split my pants.'
This could also be expressed as:
'I ate so much I almost 1 ripped 2 my pants.'
'The figures you quoted in your emails are very intriguing.'
This could also be expressed as:
'The prices 3 you gave 4 in your emails are very interesting 5.'
This could also be expressed as:
'I ate so much I almost 1 ripped 2 my pants.'
'The figures you quoted in your emails are very intriguing.'
This could also be expressed as:
'The prices 3 you gave 4 in your emails are very interesting 5.'
1 almost: 'Almost' and 'nearly' are synonymous in this context and most others. Both terms express the sense of 'coming close' to doing something, or 'all but' completing an action. Kevin is saying that he 'came close' to splitting his pants (trousers), but in the end, he didn't actually split his pants. Note that 'I nearly split my pants' is a figurative way of saying 'I ate a lot of food'!
1 barely: Although the term 'barely' is often synonymous with 'nearly', using the term here would indicate that Kevin DID split his pants, but just a little bit. We use the term 'barely' to indicate the extent or degree of a feeling, action or thought. For example: I barely have enough money to buy an ice cream; it costs 99 cents and I have a dollar.
1 completely: When Kevin says that he 'nearly' split his pants, he means that he 'almost' did, but no splitting actually happened. 'Nearly' and 'completely' don't express the same meaning. 'Completely' means 'entirely' or 'fully'. Example: Try this new shampoo, it's completely free.
2 ripped: 'To split one's pants' is to tear the fabric of their pants (trousers). We often say 'I nearly split my pants' to express that we have eaten a lot. The verb 'to split' means to 'rip' or 'to tear' in this context.
2 broke: The verb 'to break' isn't used to describe 'ripping' or 'tearing' the fabric of an article of clothing. 'Broken' is generally reserved to describe 'objects' (machines, toys, even bones) which are damaged or not working. One cannot break a pair of pants.
2 divided: In other contexts, 'to split' is synonymous with 'to divide'. The verb 'to divide' cannot be used to describe the 'tearing' or 'splitting' of a pair of pants however. In a different context, we might (literally) 'split' a piece of cake, or (figuratively) 'split the bill in half', which means to divide the cake, and the bill.
2 detonated: This is incorrect. Thermal detonators belong in Star Wars, or maybe on a progressive rooster farm, but not in this sentence.
3 prices: This is the correct answer. In this context, 'figures' refers to numbers, facts or statistics. In this scene, Kevin is referring to the prices (=costs) that ChinaCorp has given him for the work they will do.
3 products: This is incorrect. The term 'figures' does not refer to 'products'. A 'product' refers to a 'commodity' or an 'item of merchandise'.
3 concerns: This is incorrect. The term 'figures' does not refer to 'concerns'. A 'concern' refers to a 'problem', 'worry', or 'preoccupation'.
3 proposals: This is incorrect. The term 'figures' does not refer to 'proposals'. A 'proposal' is a proposition or an offer.
4 gave: This is the correct answer. To 'quote (a price)' is to give, state or name it. Example: We went to the garage and the car mechanic quoted us $200 for the repairs. As a noun, 'quote' is synonymous with 'estimate' and refers to an estimated price or cost. In other contexts, 'to quote (a book)' is 'to cite', to 'use the words of' or to 'give an example from (a book)'.
4 inquired about: This is incorrect. 'To 'quote' does not share the same meaning as 'to inquire about'. To 'inquire (about a book)' is to ask for information about it.
4 requested: This is incorrect. 'To quote' does not share the same meaning as 'to request'. 'To request (a service)' is to ask for it.
4 demanded: This is incorrect. 'To quote' does not share the same meaning as 'to demand'. 'To demand' is to ask for something in a forceful way.
5 interesting: This is the correct answer. If you find something 'intriguing', you find it 'interesting', 'curious' or 'fascinating'. Kevin is interested in the prices that Mrs Lee has given him.
5 expensive: This is incorrect. An 'intriguing' and 'expensive' do not share the same meaning. An 'expensive (item)' costs a lot of money, the term is the opposite of 'cheap'.
5 troubling: This is incorrect. An 'intriguing' and 'troubling' do not share the same meaning. 'A 'troubling (problem)' is one which is 'problematic', or causes 'worry' or 'concern'.
5 inaccurate: This is incorrect. An 'intriguing' and 'inaccurate' do not share the same meaning. 'Inaccurate' describes something which is 'mistaken' or 'incorrect'.
Exercise 5
"The first thing we're going to do is split up into teams of two".
Choose all the sentences below that use the phrasal verb "to split up" correctly.
Choose all the sentences below that use the phrasal verb "to split up" correctly.
"The first thing we're going to do is split up into teams of two".
Choose all the sentences below that use the phrasal verb "to split up" correctly.
Choose all the sentences below that use the phrasal verb "to split up" correctly.
This is one correct use of the phrasal verb "to split up". Here it means to separate, or to end a romantic relationship. Note that in Lawrence's speech he is using the verb to express the sense of dividing, and not ending a relationship.
This is one correct use of the phrasal verb "to split up". Here the verb indicates a division (of labor). This is the same sense in which Lawrence uses the term in the dialogue.
This sentence has no ostensible meaning. The verb "to split up" cannot be used to indicate that one will "analyze" or "examine" a topic.
The expression "to split hairs" is a legitimate way to refer to analyzing things in too much detail, however this expression uses the simple verb "to split", and not the phrasal verb "to split up".
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