common cause

Idioms  

1. A joint interest, as in “The common cause against the enemies of piety” (from John Dryden's poem, Religio laici, or a Layman's Faith, 1682). This term originated as to make common cause (with), meaning “to unite one's interest with another's.” In the mid-1900s the name Common Cause was adopted by a liberal lobbying group.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

common cause

Many attendees, however, had not found that common cause.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, and the Alzheimer's Society said it is a common misconception to question whether dementia is a normal part of ageing.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026

While viral infections are the most common cause in the United States, bacteria, parasites and fungi can also cause the condition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026

The historically anachronistic animated epic introduces its neanderthal champion, Spear, and his partner, a female Tyrannosaurus named Fang, as they find common cause in grief.

From Salon ● Feb. 1, 2026

“Why not make common cause with him against the Lannisters?”

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin