polarize

Related to polarize: Polaris, Polarized sunglasses

polarize (one group of people) into (two groups of people)

To cause a group of people to divide into two opposing or contrasting groups. The issue has polarized the country into two bitterly divided camps—those in favor of the legislation, and those against it. The controversial CEO tends to polarize employees into a group that loves him and a group that hates him.
See also: group, of, polarize
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

polarize something into something

to divide a group into two segments. Your actions have just polarized the students into two opposing groups! We polarized the entire population into two factions.
See also: polarize
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • battle of the giants
  • at opposite poles
  • at each other's throats
  • chalk and cheese
  • be at each other's throats
  • cling together
  • between two fires
  • Box and Cox
  • come together
  • (one, two, three) strikes against (someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
First, circularly polarized laser light polarizes rubidium atoms in the D1 resonance at a wavelength of 795 nm.
On the way to experimental test of the time reversal invariance in the nuclear reactions
When waves are scattered along multiple pathways, fields do polarize along the direction of travel.
Technique puts more data into airwaves
Many electronic-display technologies use similar filters to polarize light and create crisp, vibrant images.
Liquid crystal emits polarized light
They use a laser to energize and polarize xenon gas, which they then dissolve in solution.
A sharper magnetic window into the body
We will polarize a pulsed cold neutron beam from the SNS using a [.sup.3]He neutron spin filter.
Precision neutron polarimetry for neutron beta decay
The hypothesis that geomagnetism in association with solar wind polarizes secretory IgA as a molecular gatekeeper that affects the absorption of gut nutrients vs antigens is insightful.
Re: Geomagnetisim and Food Allergy