Cut the apple in half

Cut the apple in half/two/two pieces

Brave Heart

Senior Member

Could you tell me which of the following nouns is the most common in an informal conversation at a kitchen?:
— Cut the apple in half/two/two pieces.
— Cut the apple in quarters/four/four pieces.

If there are better alternatives, please let me know.

Talant

Senior Member

«Cut the apple in half» and «cut the apple in two [pieces]» are not exactly the same thing. The first sentence states that both pieces must be similar, while the second one doesn’t ask for any particular size. In any case, you hear both «in half» or «in two»

In the same lines, I’ve heard more often «cut the apple in four» than «in quarters»

Brave Heart

Senior Member

Thanks Talant. I appreciate your help.

I forgot to ask about this:
Which is more often used, «Cut the apple in half» or «Cut the apple into half»? assuming those two mean exactly the same thing.

petereid

Senior Member

Brave Heart

Senior Member

Thanks petereid. I appreciate your help.

You mean, «into» is not common (or appropriate) in this context?

se16teddy

Senior Member

Could you tell me which of the following nouns is the most common in an informal conversation at a kitchen?:
— Cut the apple in half/two/two pieces.
— Cut the apple in quarters/four/four pieces.

If there are better alternatives, please let me know.

I agree with Talant’s point that there are possible differences in meaning. However, in answer to your questions, all these forms are very commonly used, and you’d have to do a statistical analysis to determine which is the commonest!

In general you can use into as well as in in these structures. One you haven’t mentioned, and which is also good, is in(to) halves. The exception is that into half doesn’t sound quite so good — I’m not entirely sure of the reason why it is not so good, but I think it has something to do with half being singular. Whereas cutting in half sounds like a process and is fine, cutting into half sounds as if the result of the process were a single half, and not two halves.

Brave Heart

Senior Member

Packard

Senior Member

You can also turn «half» and «quarter» into verbs.

I halved the apple.

I quartered the apple.

I had my ex-spouse drawn and quartered.

Brave Heart

Senior Member

Thanks Packard. I kind of wanted imperative sentences, but I appreciate your help.

You can also turn «half» and «quarter» into verbs.

I halved the apple.

I quartered the apple.

I had my ex-spouse drawn and quartered.

It’s not common to say, «Halve the apple» or «Quarter the apple», right?

I don’t really get the meaning of your last sentence: I had my ex-spouse drawn and quartered. What does this mean specifically?

kenny4528

Senior Member

cut ex-spouse into several pieces

AWordLover

Senior Member

Could you tell me which of the following nouns is the most common in an informal conversation at a kitchen?:
— Cut the apple in half/two/two pieces.
— Cut the apple in quarters/four/four pieces.

If there are better alternatives, please let me know.

I can’t tell you which is most common.
All of your choices sound fine (if you made the best in/into choice).

On to the issue of in vs into.
Here is one man’s opinion.

1a) Cut the apple into half. [I agree that this sounds awkward.]
1b) Cut the apple in half. [Perfect. This use of half is not mathematical, it doesn’t mean into two (exactly) equal pieces. It would mean into two roughly equal pieces.]

I would be more likely to hear and say into if I chose to say
2a) Cut the apple into two pieces. [This sounds slightly better to me.]
2b) Cut the apple in two pieces. [This is almost, but not quite as good.]

3a) Cut the apple into two. [This sounds a little awkward to me like half. It is like the word pieces is elided from the end — Cut the apple into two pieces. [That sounds fine.] I might briefly consider that the elided word is apples, which would make the sentence nonsense. — Cut the apple into two [apples].]
3b) Cut the apple in two. [Perfect, but although I might assume the pieces should be roughly equal I’m forced to guess.
3b) Cut the apple into two equial pieces. [It is clear, but wordy.]

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English Idiom ‘cut the apple in half’

There is a French idiom, which translated word-for-word is

It means both parties will benefit from 50% of the requested initial negotiated deal.

Can this idiom be also used in English with the same meaning:

‘Let’s cut (split) the apple in half’ ?

7 Answers 7

In England we sometimes use a similar idiom: meet me in the middle, or meet me halfway, or, equivalently, let’s split the difference.

They all mean the same, that is, when two parties are negotiating and one wants to sell high and the other buy low, they can agree on a compromise price that’s halfway between each of their offers.

There’s an idiom

To divide something into two equal parts. (The fifty means 50 percent.)

• Tommy and Billy divided the candy fifty-fifty.
• The robbers split the money fifty-fifty.

You could consider saying, «Let’s go halves on something». To go halves means:

to share the whole amount (of something with another person): ‘to go halves on an orange‘

Note: You should not use «go half on something». It doesn’t have the same meaning.

You could also consider using «Let’s go (or split something) half and half». Half and half means:

«Let’s go half and half» is more broadly used when you suggest two parties split the bill or expenses, e.g., restaurant, bar and taxi fare, etc.

[Collins Online Dictionary]

a fair distribution of resources, a mutually beneficial trade .

Meet me in the middle, meet me halfway, or, equivalently, let’s split the difference all mean the same as each other that is, when two parties are negotiating and one wants to sell high and the other buy low, they can agree on a compromise price that’s halfway between each of their offers, but they are different than the meaning of the French idiom. (Yes, this intro text is derived from Charon’s answer). Citation linked in Charon’s post, . need 10 rep before I can post more than 2 links it seems.

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Magic Caramel Self Saucing Baked Apples

Sweet, plump, juicy Baked Apples that makes its own caramel sauce!! Just fill halved apples with a simple nut, butter and sugar spiced filling, bake for 40 minutes, and it comes out sitting in a pool of bubbling caramel sauce. It’s like…. magic!

This is a terrific quick and easy dessert for assembling ahead then popping in the oven while you’re eating dinner. Just don’t forget the ice cream!

Today’s recipe is brought into this world courtesy of Modi Apples, bright red balls with a hint of yellow full of crisp juiciness with fabulous apple flavour!

Baked Apples recipe

I’ve been munching on Modi Apples obsessively since I discovered them which, admittedly, was only a couple of months ago when I was asked to try them.

I feel bad saying this, but I must confess I was a wee bit dubious because for as long as I can remember, I’ve approached store bought apples with caution, knowing that it’s actually quite hard to get really great eating ones here in Australia – or at least, here in Sydney.

How wrong I was.

To everyone who’s bitten into promising looking apples only to be sorely disappointed, meet your new favourite apple – Modi.

They get full marks on my Apple Score Card: super juicy, crisp but not hard, and most importantly for me, they have great flavour, something that most of the main stream apples lack.

Added bonus: it’s a good snacking size, a bit smaller than most apples. If you’re looking at my hand for size context, remember what my friends call me – Baby Hands. 😂

With apples this good, I wanted to make something real quick ‘n easy and so sinfully delicious, you’ll want to make this over and over again.

So this is what I came up with – Baked Apples.

But these are not your usual Baked Apples. 🙂 These are self saucing. As in –when you pull this out of the oven, those apples are sitting in a pool of bubbling caramel.

How to make Caramel Baked Apples

Cut apples in half and scoop out core. Fill with a sugar, butter, walnut spiced mixture, piling it high to make a nice mound of the filling. Mix together cornflour/cornstarch and water, then pour this into the pan.

After 40 minutes in the oven, some of the butter and sugar in the filling melts down and through the apples and into the pan and creates a caramel sauce. It’s like…magic!

Want extra caramel sauce? Make some Salted Caramel Sauce!

What kind of apples are best for baked apples?

Any apples are suitable for making baked apples, it comes down to personal taste. I like to use red apples – any type. If you want a bit of tang, use Granny Smith Apples.

Top with a big scoop of ice cream, or even a dollop of cream. It’s the ultimate combo – sweet, crunch, creamy, warm, cold, creamy…. it’s SO GOOD!! – Nagi x

PS If you’re wondering if baked apples are healthy, well, let’s put it this way. The apple part is healthy. Everything else is not. 😂 But it’s much healthier to have Baked Apples for dessert than a giant slice of Chocolate Fudge Cake or Strawberry Cheesecake!

And remember, everything in moderation right? Good food, good life!

Источник

Magic Caramel Self Saucing Baked Apples

Sweet, plump, juicy Baked Apples that makes its own caramel sauce!! Just fill halved apples with a simple nut, butter and sugar spiced filling, bake for 40 minutes, and it comes out sitting in a pool of bubbling caramel sauce. It’s like…. magic!

This is a terrific quick and easy dessert for assembling ahead then popping in the oven while you’re eating dinner. Just don’t forget the ice cream!

Today’s recipe is brought into this world courtesy of Modi Apples, bright red balls with a hint of yellow full of crisp juiciness with fabulous apple flavour!

Baked Apples recipe

I’ve been munching on Modi Apples obsessively since I discovered them which, admittedly, was only a couple of months ago when I was asked to try them.

I feel bad saying this, but I must confess I was a wee bit dubious because for as long as I can remember, I’ve approached store bought apples with caution, knowing that it’s actually quite hard to get really great eating ones here in Australia – or at least, here in Sydney.

How wrong I was.

To everyone who’s bitten into promising looking apples only to be sorely disappointed, meet your new favourite apple – Modi.

They get full marks on my Apple Score Card: super juicy, crisp but not hard, and most importantly for me, they have great flavour, something that most of the main stream apples lack.

Added bonus: it’s a good snacking size, a bit smaller than most apples. If you’re looking at my hand for size context, remember what my friends call me – Baby Hands. 😂

With apples this good, I wanted to make something real quick ‘n easy and so sinfully delicious, you’ll want to make this over and over again.

So this is what I came up with – Baked Apples.

But these are not your usual Baked Apples. 🙂 These are self saucing. As in –when you pull this out of the oven, those apples are sitting in a pool of bubbling caramel.

How to make Caramel Baked Apples

Cut apples in half and scoop out core. Fill with a sugar, butter, walnut spiced mixture, piling it high to make a nice mound of the filling. Mix together cornflour/cornstarch and water, then pour this into the pan.

After 40 minutes in the oven, some of the butter and sugar in the filling melts down and through the apples and into the pan and creates a caramel sauce. It’s like…magic!

Want extra caramel sauce? Make some Salted Caramel Sauce!

What kind of apples are best for baked apples?

Any apples are suitable for making baked apples, it comes down to personal taste. I like to use red apples – any type. If you want a bit of tang, use Granny Smith Apples.

Top with a big scoop of ice cream, or even a dollop of cream. It’s the ultimate combo – sweet, crunch, creamy, warm, cold, creamy…. it’s SO GOOD!! – Nagi x

PS If you’re wondering if baked apples are healthy, well, let’s put it this way. The apple part is healthy. Everything else is not. 😂 But it’s much healthier to have Baked Apples for dessert than a giant slice of Chocolate Fudge Cake or Strawberry Cheesecake!

And remember, everything in moderation right? Good food, good life!

Источник