on opposite sides of the barricades

English

Etymology

The idiom has been in use for at least a century [1] [2]. It probably derives from a literal observation of political protests, where government buildings were insulated with barricades, and the government was said to not represent the people because they and the people were on opposite sides of the barricades.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Prepositional phrase

on opposite sides of the barricades

1. (idiomatic) Holding starkly opposite views on an issue.

Synonyms

• diametrically opposed