monkey in the middle
1
a children's game in which two players throw a ball at each other in a manner that prevents the third player from catching the ball
2
a person who is in the middle of two fighting or arguing sides
The origin of the idiom "monkey in the middle" can be traced back to the game of catch or soccer, where players form a circle and try to keep the ball away from one participant positioned in the middle. Figuratively, it refers to a situation where someone is caught or trapped between two opposing forces or groups, often being used as a target or subject of teasing, manipulation, or exclusion.
- The new employee found themselves as the monkey in the middle, caught between conflicting demands from their supervisors and co-workers.
- Sarah felt like a monkey in the middle when her friends started arguing, trying to pull her onto their respective sides of the disagreement.
- The child became the monkey in the middle during a game of tag, constantly chased by their older siblings and unable to join either team.
- The mediator tried to find a compromise between two feuding parties, but felt like a monkey in the middle, facing resistance and stubbornness from both sides.
- The student found themselves as the monkey in the middle of a heated debate between two professors, being pulled in different directions to support their opposing viewpoints.