crossfirecross‧fire /ˈkrɒsfaɪə $ ˈkrɒːsfaɪr/ noun [uncountable] 
Doctors who tried to help the wounded were caught in the crossfire.in crossfire Many civilians were killed in crossfire.2a 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.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The crossfire exposed deep divisions within the party.
- And on this stretch, in particular, there was no provision for crossfire.
- Dozens of civilians were reportedly killed in the crossfire.
- From at least three different directions, they opened up on our three ships and the off-loading grunts with machine-gun crossfire.
- Other reports put the total dead, including civilians caught in the crossfire, as high as 350.
- The administration is more concerned not to get caught in the crossfire than to prevent the crossfire in the first place.
- The muzzle of a gun poked up - would they be caught in crossfire?
Longman Language Activatorto be shot at by someone
· I heard a bullet whistle past my ear, and I realized we were being shot at.· The UN troops shouldn't be there just to be shot at -- they should be allowed to defend themselves.
if someone is under fire , they are being shot at, especially by several people during a battle: · The men's faces were white with fear -- none of them had ever been under fire before.under heavy fire (=being shot at repeatedly): · Although they were under heavy fire from all sides, they managed to get the wounded off the battlefield.come under fire (=start being shot at): · Troops sent to quell the fighting came under fire themselves.
if someone is caught in the crossfire , they are trapped between two groups of people who are shooting at each other, and may be shot accidentally themselves: · Two civilians were killed when they were caught in the crossfire between the police and the protestors.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Doctors who tried to help the wounded were caught in the crossfire. During a divorce, kids often get caught in the crossfire.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
1bullets from two or more opposite directions that pass through the same area: Doctors who tried to help the wounded were caught in the crossfire. During a divorce, kids often get caught in the crossfire.· The muzzle of a gun poked up - would they be caught in crossfire?· Other reports put the total dead, including civilians caught in the crossfire, as high as 350.· The administration is more concerned not to get caught in the crossfire than to prevent the crossfire in the first place.· Munir Karajah got caught in the crossfire on a riotous day in Hebron earlier this year.· I didn't want you to be caught in the crossfire when it came.· Not only do they kill each other, but also passers-by caught in the crossfire.
Doctors who tried to help the wounded were caught in the crossfire.in crossfire Many civilians were killed in crossfire.2a 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.