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

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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:

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

The e-mail bomb is becoming a common weapon of war against Internet hosts, being sent by spammers, con artists and others who seek to interfere with the Internet, and schools can be caught in the crossfire. It is therefore crucial that your computers are armed with up-to-date operating systems, spam and virus filters, and firewalls to reduce the risks.

E-mail bombs: growing numbers of "denial-of-service attacks" are directed at schools

Proponents pointed out that it would stop the advance of Soviet tanks without blowing up European cities that might otherwise be caught in the crossfire. But the Pincus formulation stuck.

Impact: how the press affects federal policy making

词组	be caught in the crossfire
释义	be caught in the 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 Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. 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: 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 The e-mail bomb is becoming a common weapon of war against Internet hosts, being sent by spammers, con artists and others who seek to interfere with the Internet, and schools can be caught in the crossfire. It is therefore crucial that your computers are armed with up-to-date operating systems, spam and virus filters, and firewalls to reduce the risks. E-mail bombs: growing numbers of "denial-of-service attacks" are directed at schools Proponents pointed out that it would stop the advance of Soviet tanks without blowing up European cities that might otherwise be caught in the crossfire. But the Pincus formulation stuck. Impact: how the press affects federal policy making
随便看	all's fair in love and war all shapes and sizes all sharped up all shook up (all) shot to hell all show and no go all singing, all dancing all-singing, all-dancing all Sir Garnet all sizzle and no steak (all) skin and bones all smiles all someone's geese are swans all's one to (one) (all) spiffed out all spruced up all students take calculus (all) sweetness and light all sweetness and light all's well that ends well all systems (are) go All systems are go all systems go all talk all talk (and no action)