hold the ring

hold the ring

To monitor or control a conflict or dispute, especially in a neutral or uninvolved manner. Primarily heard in UK. Working in HR, my job is to hold the ring between employees who have a problem, rather than involve myself directly in it.
See also: hold, ring
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hold the ring

monitor a dispute or conflict without becoming involved in it.
1991 Mark Tully No Full Stops in India The police no longer attempt to hold the ring between the farmers and landless labourers fighting for just the paltry minimum wage.
See also: hold, ring
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • not want to know
  • the meat in the sandwich
  • tick over
  • la
  • à la
  • all manner of
  • all manner of somebody/something
  • in neutral
  • in a manner of speaking
  • manner
References in periodicals archive
"Whilst it's the safeguarding board's interest to know the quality of that side (VCS), they don't necessarily need to hold the ring on it.
Inside the ring, there is a flat surface which houses a tiny optical heart-rate monitor sensor, three-axis accelerometer and two magnetic strips that hold the ring onto the charger.
Memories AS the bright silver moon climbs high Once more into the black velvet sky I walk alone, along the golden sands And wonder why you said goodbye For in my hand I hold the ring That once went on your finger In my heart I hold memories Of when we were happy together So why, my sweet angel of the night Did you say goodbye to me As I lie here all alone My heart is slowly dying For the only thing I have left of you To hold close to me Is the silver heart shaped locket You wore so gracefully Every time we were together
UNDEFEATED But Joshua does not hold the Ring magazine belt (left)
Dugdale, a better leader than Labour deserved when they were on their knees, can hold the ring against the SNP in what will become a real battle to the death in the west of Scotland over the next few years.
sheet will almost wipe out the land length required to hold the ring in the platen.
Two small push-pins are used to hold the ring in place.
In agreement with the coach, the stationary lift was modified whereby the lifting partner would grab the dancer's blade before lifting her so that she could hold the ring position without placing stress on the left forearm (Figure 5).
The aid suspension indicates that the West believes the moderates in the Syrian opposition cannot hold the ring in Syria any longer.
Together they rigidly hold the ring to which spider, focuser and finder are attached.
We like the one-handed version shown in the top photo because you can hold the ring in place with one hand while tightening it with the other.
I also wrote: "UN member states would have to be convinced that under cover of a rescue mission the states doing the job did not have an ulterior motive and that the mandate for it could be tied down to the minimum needed to help end the tragedy and hold the ring for a new set of well-intentioned rulers to emerge.
Asked whether he might create the post of a grocery ombudsman who could hold the ring in the contentious area of production and retailing, Ciolo?
Mr Powell said a "referee" was needed to hold the ring between competing and contradictory interests.