middle ground 
noun (usually the middle ground)
1An intermediate position or area of compromise or possible agreement between two opposing views or groups: each party wants to capture the votes of those occupying the middle ground...
- It has previously been mentioned that, occupying the middle ground in peace settlements, is the quest to impose a new identity on the defeated states.
- There appears to be little room for middle ground between these opposing positions, and much is at stake.
- It occupies a nice middle ground of compromise - grandstanding gets you nowhere.
2The middle distance of a painting or photograph: a watercolour with a middle ground of a castle...
- Mist fills the middle ground, and the background mountains appear to be far in the distance.
- A waistband of mist then enters from the right and reaches nearly to the centre of the painting, so that the trees in the middle ground appear to rise from the unknown.
- It shows patrons and a waitress around a table, which converges onto a singer in the centre of the middle ground, who is visible in the preparatory drawing.
- mountain goat
- mountain grape
- mountain grass
- mountain green
- mountain guava
- mountain guide
- mountain-gun
- mountain hare
- mountain hawk
- mountain heath
- mountain heather
- mountain hemlock
- mountain hen
- mountain herring
- mountain holly
- mountain howitzer
- mountain-land
- mountain larch
- mountain lark
- mountain laurel
- mountain-like
- mountain lily
- mountain limestone
- mountain linnet
- mountain lion