above the fray

Uninvolved in an argument or debate. Kristen always tried to stay above the fray whenever there was a disagreement at work. It's difficult to stay above the fray when dealing with hostile family members. As the boss, you have to be above the fray whenever there are minor disagreements among your employees.

be above the fray

To remain uninvolved in an argument or debate. As the boss, you have to be above the fray whenever there are minor disagreements in the office. It's difficult trying to be above the fray when dealing with hostile family members. As the boss, you have to be above the fray whenever there are minor disagreements among your employees.

enter the fray

1. To join a competition. Now that you've entered the fray and decided to run for mayor, I hope you've prepared for the personal attacks that are likely to follow. I knew Sasha wouldn't enter the fray on her own, so I signed her up for the talent contest. Oh, I'm not a good enough tennis player to enter the fray. Good luck to you, though—I bet you'll do well in the competition.

2. To join in on an argument. Once my relatives start arguing, I usually leave the room rather than enter the fray. A: "Why are you out here?" B: "Everybody's arguing in there, and I have no desire to enter the fray." You two can fight amongst yourselves—I'm not entering the fray.

enter the lists

To join an argument or competition. Now that you've entered the lists and decided to run for mayor, I hope you've prepared for the personal attacks that are likely to follow. Once my relatives start arguing, I usually leave the room rather than enter the lists. I knew Sasha wouldn't enter the lists on her own, so I signed her up for the talent contest.

See also: enter, list

fray around the edges

1. Literally, to become worn along the edges, as of fabric. I think it's time for us to get a new blanket—this one is all frayed around the edges. We seriously need some new bath towels. These ones are frayed around the edges after years of use. This throw pillow was my grandmother's, which is why it's frayed around the edges these days.

2. To become less successful or harmonious. Our roommate relationship is starting to fray around the edges now that Pat has begun leaving his stuff, including dirty dishes, all over the apartment. A: "I'm worried those two are going to break up." B: "Me too. Do you think their relationship just frayed around the edges over time?" I thought the merger was a done deal! What caused the agreement to fray around the edges?

fray at the edges

1. Literally, to become worn along the edges, as of fabric. I think it's time for us to get a new blanket—this one has frayed at the edges. We seriously need some new bath towels. These ones are frayed at the edges after years of use. This throw pillow was my grandmother's, that's why it's frayed at the edges these days.

2. To become less successful or harmonious. Our roommate relationship is starting to fray at the edges now that Pat has begun leaving his stuff, including dirty dishes, all over the apartment. A: "I'm worried those two are going to break up." B: "Me too. Do you think their relationship just frayed at the edges over time?" I thought the merger was a done deal! What made the agreement fray at the edges?

join the fray

1. To enter into some competitive endeavor. Now that you've joined the fray and decided to run for mayor, I hope you're prepared for the personal attacks that are likely to follow. The company is preparing to join the fray with a new operating system for smartphones and tablets.

2. To become a part of an ongoing fight or argument. Once my relatives start arguing, I usually leave the room rather than join the fray. Look, we can't resolve this issue ourselves. We don't need the boss joining the fray.

jump into the fray

1. To enter into some competitive endeavor. Now that you've jumped into the fray and decided to run for mayor, I hope you're prepared for the personal attacks that are likely to follow. The company is preparing to jump into the fray with a new operating system for smartphones and tablets.

2. To become a part of an ongoing fight or argument. Once my relatives start arguing, I usually leave the room rather than jump into the fray. Look, we can resolve this issue ourselves. We don't need the boss jumping into the fray.

stay above the fray

To remain uninvolved in an argument or debate. Kristen always tried to stay above the fray whenever there was a disagreement at work. It's difficult to stay above the fray when dealing with hostile family members.

tempers frayed

Things became tense among people; people lost their tempers. Tempers frayed at Thanksgiving when Uncle Stu and Aunt Marsha started arguing about politics.

enter the lists

Fig. to begin to take part in a contest or argument. He had decided not to stand for Parliament, but entered the lists at the last minute. The family disagreement had almost been resolved when the grandfather entered the lists.

See also: enter, list

join the fray

and jump into the fray; enter the fray

Fig. to join the fight or argument. After listening to the argument, Mary decided to jump into the fray. Tom joined the fray and immediately got knocked down.

enter the lists

Also, enter the fray. Engage in a fight or competition, as in He said he'd be willing to enter the lists well before the primaries, or Whenever people disagreed, she was eager to enter the fray. The first term uses the noun lists in the sense of "a barrier around the arena enclosing medieval jousting tournaments" and was being used figuratively by the late 1500s. The variant uses fray in the sense of "a noisy skirmish or battle," a usage from the late 1300s.

See also: enter, list

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

fray at the edges

fray around the edges

If something or someone frays at the edges or frays around the edges, they gradually become weaker or less successful. The government's army has begun to fray at the edges. By this time, their partnership had begun to fray around the edges. Note: You can also talk about something being frayed at the edges or frayed around the edges. At 72, his voice is sometimes a little frayed around the edges, but that just adds to its charm. Note: If a piece of cloth or rope frays, its threads or fibres start to come apart.

enter the lists

issue or accept a challenge.

In medieval times, the lists were the enclosed area in which knights fought each other in tournaments.

See also: enter, list

ˌfray at/around the ˈedges/ˈseams

start to come apart or to fail: Support for the leader was fraying at the edges.

If cloth frays, the threads in it start to come apart.