have a foot in both camps; play both sides
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to have a foot in both camps; to try to maintain relations with two opposing sides (often due to opportunism or indecision)
derogatoryOften implies criticism of someone being opportunistic or indecisive. A common variant is 脚踏两只船.
Zuò做
rén人
xīn心
yào要
dìng定
，
bù不
néng能
jiǎo脚
cǎi踩
liǎng两
zhī只
chuán船
。
One must be resolute in life and cannot have a foot in both camps.
Tā他
zài在
liǎng两
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
jiān兼
zhí职
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
jiǎo脚
cǎi踩
liǎng两
zhī只
chuán船
。
He works part-time at two companies; he's practically trying to play both sides.
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Nǐ你
bié别
xiǎng想
jiǎo脚
cǎi踩
liǎng两
zhī只
chuán船
，
bì必
xū须
xuǎn选
yī一
biān边
zhàn站
。
Don't think you can have it both ways—you must choose a side.