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.

---

Example Sentences

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

With two young children and aging relatives, Kelly, who’s 45, says he is caught in the middle.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 13, 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

TSMC—Taiwan’s 2330 -1.17%decrease; red down pointing triangle biggest company and a critical manufacturer for U.S. tech giants like Nvidia and Apple—is caught in the middle of a long-awaited trade deal between Taiwan and the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

On one fateful occasion, while I drove through the same neighborhood, a vicious rainstorm swept through the streets, and your abuela got caught in the middle of it.

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya