(one's) opposite number

Someone who has the same or a very similar position, role, or function in a different group, company, or country; one's counterpart elsewhere. I've been going over the merger details with my opposite number in the XYZ Media. The Environmental Protection Agency and their opposite numbers around the globe have been negotiating new legislation aimed at curbing the effects of climate change. Hey, have Jeanne in reception call her opposite number in the Legal Department and find out if Joel's in today.

at opposite poles

At or holding two completely opposite positions, opinions, or viewpoints, as between two people or two groups of people. Refers to the North and South Pole, which lie diametrically opposite each other along the Earth's axis of rotation. The two parties of the government are at opposite poles on so many issues, it's a wonder anything is accomplished at all! Steve and I are just at opposite poles about the meaning of this poem. Are you and Taylor still at opposite poles about how to best lead the committee?

be opposite sides of the same coin

To be two things that seem disparate but are actually related. I've always felt that environmentalism and human rights are opposite sides of the same coin. Those two issues are just opposite sides of the same coin, so you can't really deal with them separately. Absenteeism and disrespect are just opposite sides of the same coin, as far as the headmaster is concerned.

See also: coin, of, opposite, same, side

on opposite sides of the barricade(s)

Occupying conflicting, opposing, and/or contrary positions on some issue or in some situation. Unfortunately, it seems more and more to be the case that those who would see the economy recover and those who strive for social equality find themselves on opposite sides of the barricade.

opposite sides of the same coin

Two things that seem disparate but are actually related. I've always felt that environmentalism and human rights are opposite sides of the same coin.

See also: coin, of, opposite, same, side

opposites attract

Unlike people tend to be drawn to each other. A: "I have no idea why Ben and Julia are together when they have such different interests." B: "Well, opposites attract, right?" I know firsthand that opposites attract because my wife and I are very different people and have a very happy marriage!

the opposite sex

Collectively, the members of the other gender, typically the gender to which one is attracted. I still remember the torture of being in middle school, suddenly so fascinated by but at once terrified of the opposite sex. I don't understand this tendency we have right now to demonize the opposite sex as some kind of enemy in a made-up social war.

two sides of the same coin

Two things that seem disparate but are actually related. I've always felt that environmentalism and human rights are actually two sides of the same coin.

See also: coin, of, same, side, two

opposite sex

the other sex; (from the point of view of a female) males; (from the point of view of a male) females. (Also with member of, as in the example.) Ann is crazy about the opposite sex. Bill is very shy when he's introduced to the opposite sex. Do members of the opposite sex make you nervous?

opposite number, one's

One's counterpart, as in He's my opposite number in the California office. This expression is generally used for a person's equivalent in another organization or system ( number alluding to their position in a hierarchy). [c. 1900]

two sides of the same coin

opposite sides of the same coin

If two things are two sides of the same coin or opposite sides of the same coin, they are closely related to each other and cannot be separated, even though they seem to be completely different. I've always felt that tragedy and comedy are two sides of the same coin. Love and hate are the opposite sides of the same coin. Compare with the other side of the coin.

See also: coin, of, same, side, two

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

your ˌopposite ˈnumber

a person who holds the same position as you in another country, organization, company, etc: The American Secretary of State will meet his Russian opposite number tomorrow. ♢ She’s my opposite number in IBM.

the ˌopposite ˈsex

the other sex: He found it difficult to talk to members of the opposite sex.

ˌopposites atˈtract

used to say that people who are very different are often attracted to each other: ‘Aren’t you surprised that Peter and Sally are together?’ ‘A little. But they say opposites attract, don’t they?’

two ˌsides of the same ˈcoin

used to talk about two ways of looking at the same situation: According to some people, great opportunity and great danger are two sides of the same coin.

See also: coin, of, same, side, two

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

two sides of the same coin

Two seemingly different things that are actually similar. In contrast to the other side of the coin, which does betoken a different side, this cliché emphasizes similarity—for example, “A talent for music and facility in mathematics are two sides of the same coin.”

See also: coin, of, same, side, two

See also:

References in classic literature

(i) Pairs of opposites which fall under the category of relation are explained by a reference of the one to the other, the reference being indicated by the preposition 'of' or by some other preposition.

(ii) Pairs of opposites which are contraries are not in any way interdependent, but are contrary the one to the other.

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Such, however, was the crowd and confusion, that, during the earlier part of the conflict, their efforts to meet were unavailing, and they were repeatedly separated by the eagerness of their followers, each of whom was anxious to win honour, by measuring his strength against the leader of the opposite party.

These knights, therefore, their aim being thus eluded, rushed from opposite sides betwixt the object of their attack and the Templar, almost running their horses against each other ere they could stop their career.

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"But what could it mean?" demanded the diner opposite.

"They are the opposite of each other," said Father Brown, with a queer kind of smile.

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There was no light; there was a sort of twilight, but the one door stood open directly opposite the other through a long row of rooms and saloons, and there it was lighted up.

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He had scarce glanced his eye round, when he perceived horses grazing on the opposite side of the river.

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But there he sat; and in his old seat on the opposite side of the room reclined Sir Mulberry Hawk, with his legs upon the cushion, and his handkerchief thrown negligently over his knees: finishing his magnum of claret with the utmost coolness and indifference.

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We crossed the ice, therefore, and ascended the opposite rock.

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There were yet another class of persons--those who were waiting to attend summonses their employers had taken out, which it was optional to the attorney on the opposite side to attend or not--and whose business it was, from time to time, to cry out the opposite attorney's name; to make certain that he was not in attendance without their knowledge.

Pickwick sat opposite the tipstaff; and the tipstaff sat with his hat between his knees, whistling a tune, and looking out of the coach window.

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If it had been Tertius who stood opposite to her, that look of misery would have been a pang to him, and he would have sunk by her side to comfort her, with that strong-armed comfort which, she had often held very cheap.

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And then he got into the company of a more refined, licentious sort of people, and taking to all their wanton ways rushed into the opposite extreme from an abhorrence of his father's meanness.

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On the following morning (May 26th), as they were all on shore, breakfasting on one of the beautiful banks of the river, they observed two canoes descending along the opposite side.

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