Question

in_the_loop_163 to give portions of the goods captured during a war to the winners of the war The expression is used literally in the context of war, but it can also be used figuratively, as in sentence 2.

Accepted Answer

DIVIDE THE SPOILS Several centuries ago, it was common practice for invading armies to divide the spoils after they had won a battle. Whatever goods they had captured, such as money or livestock, would be divided among themselves to keep.The boys from two rival camps decided to compete for a gallon of ice cream. The winning team would get to divide the spoils and the losing team would get nothing.

Id	in_the_loop_163
Idiom	DIVIDE THE SPOILS
Definition	to give portions of the goods captured during a war to the winners of the war
Examples	Several centuries ago, it was common practice for invading armies to divide the spoils after they had won a battle. Whatever goods they had captured, such as money or livestock, would be divided among themselves to keep. The boys from two rival camps decided to compete for a gallon of ice cream. The winning team would get to divide the spoils and the losing team would get nothing.
Extra Info	The expression is used literally in the context of war, but it can also be used figuratively, as in sentence 2.

Divide Spoils Goods War Team Loop Give Portions