cross the aisle
English
Verb
to cross the aisle (third-person singular simple present crosses the aisle, present participle crossing the aisle, simple past and past participle crossed the aisle)
- (chiefly US, idiomatic, politics) To vote, unite, or otherwise co-operate with members of another political party in order to achieve governmental or political action.
- 2006, "Commentary: How this US election may help Iraq," Christian Science Monitor, 24 Oct. (retrieved 27 Sep. 2008),
- It's voters who seem to want Republicans and Democrats in the next Congress to cross the aisle and try something different in Iraq.
- 2006, "Commentary: How this US election may help Iraq," Christian Science Monitor, 24 Oct. (retrieved 27 Sep. 2008),
- (chiefly UK and Canada, idiomatic, politics) Of a member of a parliament, to resign from one's political party and join another party, resulting in moving from one's currently assigned desk or seat in the legislative chamber to a new desk or seat physically located with the other members of one's new party.
- 1967, Geoffrey Stevens, "Kind thoughts, gentle words, then House reverts to form," Globe and Mail (Canada), 26 Sep., p. 1:
- Liberal members pounded their desks in delight as Social Crediter Horace (Bud) Olson (Medicine Hat) picked up his books and papers and crossed the aisle to take the last seat in the third row on the Government side. This symbolic gesture completed his defection.
- 1995, John Darnton, "Tories, With a Bagful of Woes, Are Hurt by a Defection," New York Times, 9 Oct. (retrieved 27 Sep. 2008),
- A Conservative member of Parliament crossed the aisle this weekend to join the resurgent Labor Party of Tony Blair.
- 2005, "Kilgour can't 'live with himself,' quits Grits," CTV.ca, 14 Apr. (retrieved 1 Apr. 2009):
- When asked by Duffy about rumours that he was being heavily courted by the Tories to cross the aisle and join them, Kilgour replied that they've opened "No doors."
- 2007, David Olive, "Belinda accomplished much in relatively short time," Toronto Star (Canada), 16 Apr. (retrieved 1 Apr. 2009):
- After Stronach's 2005 defection to Paul Martin's Liberals . . . . [a]t least one Tory MP openly called her a "whore" for crossing the aisle.
- 1967, Geoffrey Stevens, "Kind thoughts, gentle words, then House reverts to form," Globe and Mail (Canada), 26 Sep., p. 1:
Synonyms
See also
- (to vote, unite,or co-operate with members of another political party): bipartisanship