caught in the middle

Idioms  

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.

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Example Sentences

As an artificial-intelligence researcher with a specialty in videogames, Togelius is caught in the middle of what he calls “an ongoing culture war” between his passions.

From MarketWatch • May 23, 2026

For fliers caught in the middle, there’s no single rulebook to follow, aviation watchdogs said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

It was a time of both freedom and mandated restraint, and Goldin’s older sister, Barbara, was caught in the middle.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

For the handful of transgender California teens caught in the middle of the fight, it has all been deeply unnerving — if strangely motivating.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

The walruses grunted nervously and erupted into a stampede, with Roz caught in the middle.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown