serve two masters
To take orders from two superiors or two conflicting parties.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“It is hard to serve two masters at the same time.”
“The manager struggled to serve two masters when the CEO and the board members gave him conflicting instructions.”
“The diplomat found it impossible to serve two masters, as the interests of his home country and his host nation were fundamentally opposed.”
From Matthew 6:24 in the Bible.
- 01
beast with two backs
Two people united in sexual intercourse in the missionary position.
- 02
eat for two
To be pregnant
- 03
fall between two stools
To fit into neither of two categories and, hence, be neglected or fail.
- 04
feed two birds with one scone
Synonym of kill two birds with one stone.
- 05
first come, first served
One will be dealt with in the order in which one arrives.
- 06
for two pins
Readily, with only the slightest encouragement.
- 07
greater of two evils
The most harmful or unpleasant of two undesirable alternatives.
- 08
hit two targets with one arrow
Synonym of kill two birds with one stone.
Last updated August 10, 2026