taking one's half out of the middle

Verb

take one's half out of the middle (third-person singular simple present takes one's half out of the middle, present participle taking one's half out of the middle, simple past took one's half out of the middle, past participle taken one's half out of the middle)

1. To take the portion of something to which one is entitled, but in such a way that it shortchanges others.
   • A boy once complained of his brother for taking half of the bed. "And why not?" said his mother, "he is entitled to half, aint^([sic]) he?"—"Yes, ma'am," said the boy; "but how should you like to have him take out all the soft for his half? He will have his half out of the middle, and I have to...1897, Encyclopaedia of Wit and Wisdom, David McKay, page 154