the meat in the sandwich

the meat in the sandwich

A neutral party who must interact with two people or groups in conflict. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Those two had a fight recently, so I'm afraid I'll be the meat in the sandwich if we all go out together. A child of divorced parents is often the meat in the sandwich.

See also: meat, sandwich

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

the meat in the sandwich

BRITISH

If you are the meat in the sandwich, you are in a very difficult situation because you have been caught between two people or groups who are fighting or arguing with each other. The police, who have to be present to ensure these extreme groups behave, find themselves the meat in the sandwich when the trouble starts.

See also: meat, sandwich

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

the meat (or filling) in the sandwich

a person who is awkwardly caught between two opposing factions.

See also: meat, sandwich

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017