share and share alike

Meaning

1. 1phraseidiom

   Used to say that everyone should get an equal part of something, rather than anyone taking more than the rest.

   Grammar: A fixed phrase: you cannot change the words, and it is used mostly after verbs like believe in.

   Patterns

   • believe in share and share alike
   • it's share and share alike

   In our house it is share and share alike when it comes to chores.

   The brothers agreed to share and share alike on the inheritance.

   The campers shared and shared alike, so no one went hungry.

Common combinations

believe in share and share alike

Our family believes in share and share alike.

it's share and share alike

On this team, it's share and share alike.

a policy of share and share alike

The roommates had a policy of share and share alike.

teach children to share and share alike

Parents try to teach children to share and share alike.

Synonyms and how they differ

equally

Is a plain adverb for equal parts, while the idiom adds a friendly moral tone.

fifty-fifty

Suggests a split in two halves only, while share and share alike fits any size of group.

fair and square

Describes honest dealing in general, not an equal division.

Opposites

Word family

share verb

to give part to others

share noun

a part belonging to one person

sharing noun

the act of dividing or using together

shared adjective

held or used by more than one person

Commonly confused: share and share alike or fair share?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “share and share alike”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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