# circular firing squad

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/circular-firing-squad
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A political party or other group experiencing considerable disarray because the members are engaging in internal disputes and mutual recrimination.

## Examples

- The committee is now a circular firing squad, attacking each other instead of working.
- The project failed because the team turned into a circular firing squad, blaming one another for every minor mistake.
- Rather than presenting a united front to the public, the party has devolved into a circular firing squad, ensuring their own political collapse through constant internal strife.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.