friendly fire

American  

noun

1. Insurance. a fire deliberately set and remaining contained, as in a fireplace or boiler, from which any resulting loss cannot be claimed as an insurance liability (hostile fire ).

2. (in military combat) fire, as by artillery, by one's own forces, especially when causing damage near or casualties to one's own troops.

---

friendly fire British  

noun

1. military firing by one's own side, esp when it harms one's own personnel

---

Example Sentences

"We call it friendly fire syndrome," he says.

From BBC

Miles sent accusations back his way and the pair exchanged friendly fire across the roundtable.

From BBC

One reason is that it increases the chance of so-called friendly fire.

From Los Angeles Times

Jackson was hit by friendly fire during the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1893 and had his arm amputated before he died.

From Los Angeles Times

The Army’s cover-up of friendly fire in Afghanistan that killed the former football player and natural leader remains a disgrace.

From Los Angeles Times