neutral

gender-neutral

1. Not giving an indication of someone or something's gender. Our campus is trying to settle on a gender-neutral term to use for students who don't identify as male or female.
2. Applicable to any gender. My daughters have so many dolls—I wish they had more gender-neutral toys to play with.

in neutral

Of a vehicle, having the gear stick set to "neutral," wherein the engine is running but doesn't transmit power to the wheels. OK, put the car in neutral, and we'll try to push it to that gas station down the road.
See also: neutral

on neutral ground

In a location or setting to which neither side (e.g., in an argument, competition, etc.) has a connection and therefore gains no benefit or advantage. I find couple's therapy to be helpful because it gives each partner a chance to air their frustrations on neutral ground. The peace deal between the two countries was brokered on neutral ground in the European capital.
See also: ground, neutral, on

on neutral territory

In a location or setting to which neither side (e.g., in an argument, competition, etc.) has a connection and therefore gains no benefit or advantage. I find couple's therapy to be helpful because it gives each partner a chance to air their frustrations on neutral territory. The peace deal between the two countries was brokered on neutral territory in the European capital.
See also: neutral, on, territory
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

in neutral

with the shift lever of a vehicle in the position where the motor is running but is not powering the wheels or other moving parts. The car rolled down the hill because I'd left it in neutral and did not put on the brake. If you are moving and in neutral, you do not have control of your vehicle.
See also: neutral
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

on neutral ˈground/ˈterritory

in a place that has no connection with either of the people or sides who are meeting and so does not give an advantage to either of them: We decided to meet on neutral ground.
See also: ground, neutral, on, territory
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • gender-neutral
  • opposite sex
  • the opposite sex
  • Latinx
  • person up
  • play the gender card
  • agender
  • gender fluid
  • gender fluidity
References in periodicals archive
The New Neutrals can be used in several ways to liven up a room as per the interior press shows for Spring Summer 2019
Exploring the neutrals
The key players operating in the extra neutral alcohol market include Illovo Sugar (Pty) Ltd., NCP Alcohols (Pty) Ltd., USA Distillers, Agro Chemical and Food Company Limited (ACFC), Sasol Solvents, Mumias Sugar Company, Tag Solvent Products (Pty) Ltd., Swift Chemicals (Pty) Ltd., Enterprise Ethanol, and Greenpoint Alcohols (Pty) Ltd.
South Africa Extra Neutral Alcohol Projected to Reach $1,064 million by 2023
It was highest among college graduates at +15 or "moderate," followed by high school graduates at +11 or "moderate," elementary graduates also at +11 or "moderate" and non-elementary graduates at +7 or "neutral." SWS terminology for net satisfaction ratings are as follows: +70 and above, "excellent" +50 to +69, "very good" +30 to +49, "good" +10 to +29, "moderate", +9 to -9, "neutral" -10 to -29, "poor" -30 to -49, "bad" -50 to -69, "very bad" -70 and below, "execrable.
Robredo satisfaction rating drops to 'moderate,' Arroyo dips to 'poor' in new SWS poll
The retired Chief Justice's overall net satisfaction rating was a neutral +4.
VP Leni maintains good satisfaction rating in latest SWS survey
Neutrals also act as second fiddle to pops of color.
Think beige or gray is boring? Think again Pubillones: Neutral colors are timeless
* Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth (Neutral from Bronze)
Morningstar's August Winners & Losers
"We already have neutral referees for 70% of the games but, to have all neutral referees, we need more from Scotland and Italy.
Pro12 bosses introduce neutrality clause for officials
"When the ICC (International Cricket Council) introduced the one neutral umpire policy, this advantage to home teams receded to 10 percent and when two neutral umpires were required in every Test match, this advantage to home teams disappeared," Sacheti added.
Home umpires favour own teams in Tests: Study
(2) Neutral. An impartial third party who participates in a dispute at the request of the parties or the court in order to help facilitate settlement or resolution of a dispute.
Amendments to the ADR rules
BRUSSELS, Aug 4 (KUNA) -- French President Francois Hollande on Monday said Europe cannot remain neutral and has an obligation to act together with the UN to resolve crises in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Europe must act to resolve crises in Middle East - Hollande
Both pleasant and unpleasant words can evoke a higher P300 than neutral words, indicating that greater attention resources are allocated to emotive materials (19).
Attentional bias modulation by reappraisal in patients with generalized anxiety disorder: an event-related potential study
Abu Dhabi, Dec 15, 2013 - (ACN Newswire) - As the energy world looks forward to the 2014 World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi, BP is working with Masdar to deliver the lowest-carbon WFES yet following the announcement of BP Target Neutral as the Summit's Official Carbon Offset Partner.
BP helping World Future Energy Summit 2014 to be the Lowest-carbon Energy Summit to Date
New Zealand's 'neutral' interest rate appears to have fallen, and this will have a bearing on the interest rates households and businesses will face over time, Reserve Bank Assistant Governor John McDermott said today.
Why NZ's neutral interest rates have fallen: 2 October 2013
HOUSTON (CyHAN)- MAVEN will use its Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer to study the interaction of neutral gases and ions in the Martian atmosphere with the solar wind, helping scientists to understand how Mars has lost its atmosphere over time.
Searching for Mars' missing atmosphere
Dubai-based Neutral Fuels, an expert in converting used cooking oil into biodiesel, has partnered with McDonald's Australia to launch a new biodiesel processing facility in the Australian state of Victoria.
Dubai company in Australia expansion