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

Their work is a cultural bridge much like Ashitaka’s effort to bring the worlds of beasts and men together for a common cause, depicting what Miyazaki sees as one of humanism’s central conundrums.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

It is navigating a tense period in its relationship with the U.A.E., with which in better times the kingdom could make common cause.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 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

To test that idea, the team exposed mice to a protein from house dust mites, a common cause of allergic asthma.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 23, 2026

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

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