From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdivide and rule/conquerdivide and rule/conquerPGPPGto defeat or control people by making them argue with each other instead of opposing you → divide
Examples from the Corpus
divide and rule/conquer• Britain did not divide and rule.• He preferred to divide and rule.• Here too the Party could fend off opposition by a policy of divide and rule.• Power to appoint is power to divide and rule.• They haven't shown the political will to sort out the problem - there has been an element of divide and rule.• The well-tried Roman policy of divide and rule had been the basis of Augustan diplomacy and continued during the conquest.• That if you play the game of divide and rule long enough then you end up with Sister Souljah? 