serve two masters
English edit
Etymology edit
From Matthew 6:24 in the Bible.
Pronunciation edit
Audio (AU) (file)
Verb edit
serve two masters (third-person singular simple present serves two masters, present participle serving two masters, simple past and past participle served two masters)
- (idiomatic) To take orders from two superiors or two conflicting parties.
- 2017 September 1, “Paisley faltered in bid to serve two masters”, in Belfast Telegraph:
- I suspect that Mr Paisley would have been familiar with the biblical quotation: "No man can serve two masters - you cannot serve God and Mammon" (Matthew 6 v 24).