English Expressions : Let’s split the difference

Dialogue

Maggie: We have been falling out a lot recently - I think it’s time we clear it up. Let’s get everything out of our chests and have a heart-to-heart talk.

John: I will do provided you don’t hold anything back. What really matters is to get things straight and avoid getting into such arguments later on.

Maggie: Alright, your constant tangential remarks are trying my patience.

John: What about your leading questions? Don’t you see that you always try to get me cornered?

Maggie: Well, let’s split the difference. You don’t meddle in my private affairs nor do I in yours.

Vocabulary

Fall out: have an argument; to be at odds.

Clear up: to alleviate tension in a particular situation.

Get something out of one’s chest: unburden oneself; tell what's bothering you.

Hear-to-heart: candidly, intimately.

Hold back: to conceal, to hide.

Get something straight: to make a situation clear reaching an understanding.

Tangential: only slightly related to what you are doing or discussing.

Try one’s patience: to annoy one by continued unwanted behavior.

Leading question: a question that prompts or encourages the answer wanted.

Get someone cornered: to make someone talk to you when they have been trying to avoid this.

Split the difference: to find and agree upon the point halfway.

Meddle: to interfere in something that is not one's concern.