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

“The sticking point was always the Strategic Defense Initiative, which Reagan thinks is essential and Gorbachev thinks is a deal-breaker in their common cause of eliminating nuclear weapons,” Wilson says.

From Slate • Feb. 2, 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

The drugmaker said the Food and Drug Administration had approved Eylea HD for the treatment of patients with macular edema following retinal vein occlusion, a common cause of vision impairment in adults.

From Barron's • Nov. 20, 2025

Energy loss is the most common cause of failure in these systems.

From Science Daily • Nov. 17, 2025

I would feel the same if someone asked me to make common cause with the Lannisters, Jon told himself.

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