English Reference
Idiom idiom

middle of the road


Having a centrist attitude or philosophy; not extreme, especially politically.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He prefers middle of the road music that everyone likes.

CONTEXTUAL

The candidate took a middle of the road approach to avoid upsetting voters on either side.

COMPLEX

By adopting a middle of the road policy, the committee hoped to find a compromise that would satisfy the conflicting interests of both factions.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all roads lead to Rome

    Different paths can take one to the same goal.

  2. 02

    bump in the road

    A setback or obstacle, especially one which is relatively minor.

  3. 03

    down the road, not across the street

    Of the technique for committing suicide, along the radial artery rather than across the wrist from side to side.

  4. 04

    frog

    [Cockney slang]road

  5. 05

    get the show on the road

    To begin or launch; to get going.

  6. 06

    go down that road

    To settle a way of doing something; do decide to do something in a particular way.

  7. 07

    go down the road

    To employ a way of doing something; to do something in a particular way.

  8. 08

    high road

    A course of action which is dignified, honourable, or respectable.

Last updated August 10, 2026