the policy of maintaining control over one's subordinates or subjects by encouraging dissent between them, thereby preventing them from uniting to overthrow one分而治之
divided against itself
(of a group which should be coherent) split by factional interests(本该一致的团体因不同派系利益而)分裂的
柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典释义
V-ERG
(使)分开;(使)分散;(使)分裂
When people or things are divided or divide into smaller groups or parts, they become separated into smaller parts.
If you divide a larger number by a smaller number or divide a smaller number into a larger number, you calculate how many times the smaller number can fit exactly into the larger number.
A divide is a line of high ground between areas that are drained by different rivers.
PHRASE
分而治之
You use divide and rule to refer to a policy which is intended to keep someone in a position of power by causing disagreements between people who might otherwise unite against them.