caught in the middle

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Idioms and Phrases

Also, caught in the cross-fire . Between two opposing sides, as in The writers are often caught in the middle between editor and publisher, who are political opponents , or When parents don't get along, the children are often caught in the cross-fire . Long used in military situations, these terms began to be used figuratively in the second half of the 1800s.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Superstar Brazil footballer Neymar looked bemused, caught in the middle of a face-off as the pair hurled abuse at each other.

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The city's residents are caught in the middle of the dispute and many have told the BBC of their increasing frustrations, with one saying it "can't go on".

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Carter tentatively approved that agreement, but the VA rejected it, leaving the school caught in the middle.

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Unfortunately, viewers are caught in the middle, stuffing themselves on scraps when plenty of good food is left out there.

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In a number of European countries, national legal systems appear caught in the middle in a new era of deep divisions and suspicions in society - leading to a tug of war between populist politicians and their detractors - each accusing the other of using the judiciary to protect their own political interests.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

caught flat-footed caught short

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