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strike a balance

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strike a balance (between two things)

to find a satisfactory compromise between two extremes. The political party must strike a balance between the right wing and the left wing. Jane is overdressed for the party and Sally is underdressed. What a pity they didn't strike a balance between them.

See also: balance, strike

strike a balance

Find a compromise, as in We have to strike a balance between what we want and what we can afford. This expression alludes to accounting, where it signifies finding a profit or loss by weighing income versus outlay. [Mid-1800s]

See also: balance, strike