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.