ENGLISH
REFERENCE

golden mean

idiom
Meaning

A position of balance between excess and deficiency.


Origin

disputed origin

Calque of Latin aurea mediocritās.

Examples
SIMPLE

She tries to find the golden mean between work and rest.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager sought the golden mean, giving clear direction without micromanaging her team.

COMPLEX

In his philosophy, virtue was not an extreme but the golden mean — courage lay between recklessness and cowardice.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    and I don't mean maybe

    Indicating that one is serious and not joking about a matter.

  2. 02

    golden age

    A period of happiness, peace, prosperity, and great progress.

  3. 03

    golden goose

    Something that generates much profit or gives great advantages.

  4. 04

    golden handcuffs

    Any arrangement or agreement designed to provide extremely favorable benefits or pay, so as to discourage a participant from choosing to leave it, especially to retain a choice employee in a role that is unpleasant to them.

  5. 05

    golden handshake

    A generous severance payment, especially as an inducement to leave employment.

  6. 06

    golden hello

    A payment offered to an employee as an inducement to join, especially if currently working for a competitor.

  7. 07

    golden opportunity

    Ideal moment to do something.

  8. 08

    golden parachute

    An agreement between a company and an employee, usually an executive, specifying that the employee will receive certain significant benefits if employment is terminated.

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