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# friendly fire

phrase (noun phrase: friendly fire; uncountable)

«friendly fire» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, military) being shot, bombed or attacked by your own side by mistake.
2. (figurative) criticism or harm that comes from your own team, friends or party.

### In the lessons

Military and news jargon that softens a tragic mistake: soldiers killed by their own army. Formal-news register, all regions; also used in sports and politics for attacks from one's own side, sometimes humorously.

### Examples

- Two soldiers were killed by friendly fire.
- The inquiry looked into the friendly fire incident.
- In the paintball game I got hit by friendly fire from my own team.
- The minister faced friendly fire from his own party.
- Friendly fire is one of the saddest accidents of war.
- "Friendly fire!" yelled Tom as his sister hit him with a snowball.
- The general apologised for the friendly fire.
- Our history lesson explained that friendly fire is a euphemism for a terrible mistake.

### Note

Trap: nothing about it is friendly; «friendly» means «from your own side». Plain meaning: accidentally attacked by your own side. It can sound cold about deaths.