take sides

Idioms

Also, take someone's side. Support or favor one party in a dispute, as in Parents shouldn't take sides in their children's quarrels, or Thanks for taking my side concerning the agenda. [c. 1700] Also see take someone's part.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On social media, respondents were not hesitant to take sides.

From Los Angeles Times

The much-hyped 1995 Britpop battle between Oasis and Blur has been recreated for a new play in which the cast take sides.

From BBC

The letter doesn’t seem to take sides, emphasizing instead the need for cooperation that would allow “families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work.”

From Barron's

The seizing of the 26 Racing on Demand machines and the money within the machines by 21 state Department of Justice employees and two Arcadia Police personnel on Saturday is forcing those in the horse racing orbit to take sides.

From Los Angeles Times

He preserves an ironic detachment, refusing to take sides between the colonial French forces and the Communists fighting to take control of the country.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023