have a foot in both camps
Meaning: To be involved with two opposing sides at once.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “As a union member and a manager, she has a foot in both camps.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The image is of someone standing in two rival military camps. The phrase is common from the 20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Manger à tous les râteliers — literally: To eat from every hay rack
More idioms — Body & Senses
- deaf as a post — Completely deaf.
- soaked to the skin — Completely wet.
- have one foot in the grave — To be close to death.
- on one's toes — Alert and ready to react.
- blood will tell — Family background and inherited character eventually show.
- at the top of one's lungs — As loudly as possible.
More English idioms
- a workhorse — A person or machine that does a large amount of hard, reliable work.
- ugly as sin — Very ugly.
- terra firma — Solid ground, as opposed to the sea or the air.
- the sandman is coming — It's time to sleep; someone is getting sleepy.
- bite the hand that feeds you — To harm or insult someone who helps you.
- cash on the nail — Payment made immediately.
From our compliments & insults
- Cabeça de alho chocho — A forgetful scatterbrain whose thoughts won't stay put.
- Tu es mon rayon de soleil — A warm way to tell someone they brighten your day.
- Joli comme un cœur — Utterly charming or adorable.