cross‧fire /ˈkrɒsfaɪə $ ˈkrɒːsfaɪr/ noun [uncountable]

1. bullets from two or more opposite directions that pass through the same area:
Doctors who tried to help the wounded were caught in the crossfire.
in crossfire
Many civilians were killed in crossfire.

2. a situation in which people are arguing, and the results of this affect other people who are not directly involved:
During a divorce, kids often get caught in the crossfire.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲