“A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand” is an idiom in the English language that people use in everyday conversation. You have likely used this expression yourself at some point, but many people don’t know its true meaning. Understand the meaning of this idiom, learn where it came from, and see some example sentences to help you use it in daily conversation.
Meaning of the Idiom
The idiom ‘a house divided against itself cannot stand’ conveys the idea that internal conflicts and disunity within a group or organization weaken it to the point of collapse. The expression emphasizes the importance of unity and solidarity for the strength and endurance of any collective entity, whether it be a family, community, or nation.
Origin of the Idiom
The origin of this idiom can be traced back to ancient times, with variations of the expression found in religious texts and philosophical writings. The phrase gained prominence in the 19th century when it was notably used by Abraham Lincoln in his famous speech on June 16, 1858. Lincoln, addressing the issue of slavery in the United States, declared that a nation divided against itself could not endure.
10 Idiom Example Sentences
1. The family’s constant internal disputes were a house divided against itself, leading to a breakdown in communication and mutual support.
2. The political party’s infighting became a house divided against itself, causing a decline in public trust and support.
3. The lack of collaboration among team members turned the project into a house divided against itself, hindering progress and success.
4. The school board’s conflicting ideologies created a house divided against itself, affecting the implementation of effective education policies.
5. The community’s inability to unite in times of crisis made it a house divided against itself, impeding collective efforts for improvement.
6. The religious congregation’s internal disagreements turned it into a house divided against itself, diminishing the impact of its outreach programs.
7. The company’s management and employees’ lack of cohesion resulted in a house divided against itself, impacting overall productivity and morale.
8. The sports team’s internal conflicts created a house divided against itself, leading to a series of defeats on the field.
9. The nation’s political divisions turned it into a house divided against itself, hindering progress on critical issues.
10. The neighborhood’s failure to address common concerns made it a house divided against itself, diminishing the sense of community.
How to Use ‘A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand’ in Everyday Conversations
Now that you know the meaning and origin of the idiom “a house divided against itself cannot stand,” let’s see how you can use it in a real-world conversation.
Conversation 1:
Emma and Jake are discussing their startup’s team dynamics.
Emma: Have you noticed the marketing and sales teams aren’t on the same page lately?
Jake: Yeah, it’s causing delays in launching the new product.
Emma: We need to fix this soon. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
Jake: You’re right. I’ll set up a meeting to align their strategies and get everyone working together.
Conversation 2:
Sophie and Mark are talking about their friends who are constantly arguing.
Sophie: Have you noticed how much Lisa and Ben have been fighting lately?
Mark: Yeah, it’s sad. They used to be so close, but now they can’t seem to agree on anything.
Sophie: I hope they resolve things soon. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
Mark: I hope so too. If they don’t sort this out, their friendship might not survive.
Similar Idioms
1. Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth
Meaning: This idiom means that too many people trying to manage something can cause chaos and failure.
Example: The project fell apart because no one took charge—too many cooks spoil the broth.
2. United We Stand, Divided We Fall
Meaning: This phrase emphasizes the importance of unity and how division can lead to failure.
Example: The team realized they had to work together because united we stand, divided we fall.
Idioms Starting From Letter A
Each and every letter of the English alphabet has hundreds of idioms. As in this post, we are talking about the idiom beginning with the letter A. There are many other idioms that also start with the ‘A’, which can be useful to you. We have gathered all the A-starting idiomatic expressions on a single page to make it easy for you to find the best and most useful idioms starting with the letter A.
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