caught in the middle

1. 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.

Example Sentences

Mr Berry said he had "consistently denied any wrongdoing" but had found himself "subjected to a trial by media" and caught in the middle of various groups seeking "to use the case to their political advantage".

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For the companies caught in the middle, the latest news just creates more uncertainty.

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Air-traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration workers find themselves caught in the middle of the impasse—and they don’t want to be used as a political football again.

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The real people are caught in the middle, and Democrats are willing to sacrifice those people.

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The BBC has been to border areas of Cambodia, meeting people caught in the middle and seeing some of the damage left by the five days of shelling and bombing.

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