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take sides

Idioms  
  1. 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.

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Commissioner of Police Ian Vaevaso, sworn in by Manele on Wednesday, had earlier issued a statement saying "police are independent of politics" and would not take sides.

From Barron's May 1, 2026

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 Jan. 26, 2026

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 Dec. 26, 2025

“It just seems to me the Constitution doesn’t take sides on how to resolve this,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 4, 2024

He was not one to take sides with one person against another, but would find the things on which they all could agree and chose those as the things to do.

From "The Girl Who Married a Lion: and Other Tales from Africa" by Alexander Mccall Smith

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