crossfire

be caught in the crossfire

1. To literally be in the middle of an exchange of gunfire. Police officers are often caught in the crossfire when apprehending criminals.
2. To feel the effects of an issue that one is not directly involved in. I know that they're arguing about the budget because I walked into the conference room at the wrong time and was caught in the crossfire.
See also: caught, crossfire

caught in the crossfire

1. Literally in the middle of an exchange of gunfire. Police officers are often caught in the crossfire when apprehending criminals.
2. Affected by or made to be involved in a conflict or issue that one is not a part of. I was caught in the crossfire of their argument over the budget, but I refused to take sides and told them to work it out on their own.
See also: caught, crossfire
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

caught in the crossfire

 
1. Lit. trapped between two lines of enemy fire. I was caught in the crossfire and dove into a ditch to keep from getting killed.
2. and caught in the middle Fig. caught between two arguing people or groups, making it difficult to remain neutral. Bill and Ann were arguing, and poor Bobby, their son, was caught in the middle.
See also: caught, crossfire
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

be caught in the crossfire

If someone or something is caught in the crossfire, they suffer the unpleasant effects of a disagreement between other people even though they are not involved in it themselves. It's like when colleagues start to argue in a meeting. Suddenly, from being an innocent bystander, you're caught in the crossfire and required to join in. Teachers say they are caught in the crossfire between the education establishment and the Government. Note: This expression is more commonly used literally to talk about a situation where someone is in the way of two sets of people who are firing guns, and so is likely to be shot by mistake.
See also: caught, crossfire
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

be caught in the crossfire

suffer damage or harm inadvertently as the result of the conflict between two other people or groups.
The literal sense of the phrase, in a military context, is ‘be trapped (and possibly killed) by being between two opposing sides who are shooting at each other’.
1998 New Scientist This suggested that the corneal cells are innocent victims caught in the crossfire as T cells fight the viral infection.
See also: caught, crossfire
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

be caught in the ˈcrossfire

become involved in a situation where two people or groups of people are arguing, and suffer as a result: When two industrial giants clash, small companies can get caught in the crossfire.
Crossfire is the firing of guns from two or more directions at the same time.
See also: caught, crossfire
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be caught in the crossfire
  • caught in the crossfire
  • literally
  • without a moment to spare
  • chacun à son goût
  • (the) survival of the fittest
  • beat the hell out of
  • beat/knock/kick the hell out of somebody/something
  • beat/scare the daylights out of somebody
References in periodicals archive
One night, when "Crossfire" was staged before a live audience at George Washington University, the hosts were arguing over the faltering prospects of Clinton's health reform plan.
Caught in the Crossfire
In their ad, Crossfire church leaders said the hypocrisy of opponents is "amazing."
Church's price to kill cell tower: $750,000
The Roadster version of the more powerful SRT-6 version is now fairly elusive, but is worth searching out because it really puts the edge on Crossfire rag-top driving.
Chrysler are firing up the speed
Extras like special paint and satellite navigation bump the total price closer to pounds 30,000 and there may be another sudden intake of breath at the 19A insurance grouping, but Crossfires aren't ten a penny on British roads and you pay a premium for that exclusivity.
Crossfire a head-turner
The reason for our quarrel was simple - a shiny red Chrysler Crossfire roadster.
MAIL MOTORS: CHRY FREEDOM; Head-turning Crossfire roadster puts the fun back into driving
As tested in automatic version, the Crossfire costs pounds 28,520, while the six-speed manual sells for pounds 27,280.
MOTOR MAX: All-American stunner
Beneath the Crossfire's impressive bonnet will lie the same 3.2-litre V6 engine as the coupe model, allied to a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.
Chrysler's new supercar
The design concept for the Crossfire was unveiled at the 2001 North American auto show, and a production version appeared inside three months, with Karmann hired that October.
Motoring: Crossfire is gunning for the sports coupe market
"Wolfgang Bernhard [Coo, Chrysler Group] came into the studio one day and said, 'it'd be really interesting to take the Crossfire and blow it up larger.'" says Creed.
American design redefined
WASHINGTON Former Clinton spin wizard James Carville had plenty of laughs cozying up to his new boss, CNN topper Walter Isaacson, at a relaunch party for the net's political news shouter "Crossfire" in Washington last week.
Newsies bask in limelight. (Life)
Chrysler has revealed more about the Crossfire after releasing brief details of the concept model last month.
IT'S A SHOOTING STAR
THE sensational Chrysler Crossfire will be built for sale, the company confirmed yesterday.
Crossfire makes the leap from conception to delivery
The vast majority are peasants caught in the crossfire between Marxist guerrillas and the right-wing paramilitary forces that seek to wipe them out.
COLOMBIA IN CRISIS
Beilstein Informationssysteme GmbH has announced the release of CrossFire 4.0, the latest version of Beilstein's chemical information system.
Beilstein Releases CrossFire 4.0