happy medium

American  

noun

1. a course of action or condition that is between two extremes.

   Our climate is a happy medium between hot and cold.

2. a satisfactory compromise between two things that are related in such a way that one increases as the other decreases.

   We need to find a happy medium between conserving land and developing property.

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happy medium British  

noun

1. a course or state that avoids extremes

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happy medium Idioms  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of happy medium

First recorded in 1615–25

Example Sentences

“So trying to find that happy medium of pushing it to get back … to help this club out, but also not push it too far where you miss more time.”

From Seattle Times

“He’s kind of had the happy medium. He’s got enough cockiness to be confident, and yet he’s an unbelievable kid.”

From Seattle Times

So this spring, he’s trying to find a happy medium, confident that the right setup will allow him to succeed against pitchers of either hand.

From Los Angeles Times

“They don’t want to make it too slick or too gripped-up. They’re just trying to find a happy medium. And if they get it in the box where we can race in it, then we’ll have a lot more options for racing.”

From Seattle Times

“There’s got to be a happy medium between the old schoolers,” he said, and a new generation.

From Seattle Times