middle of the road

See also: middle-of-the-road

English

Alternative forms

• middle-of-the-road

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Adjective

middle of the road

1. (idiomatic) Having a centrist attitude or philosophy; not extreme, especially politically.

   Synonyms: moderate, reasonable; see also Thesaurus:moderate

   A typical middle of the road compromise is to leave the problem as it is.

   • 2020 November 12, Tova O'Brien, “Despite her mandate, Ardern's agenda will be resolutely middle of the road”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     Despite her massive mandate, [Jacinda] Ardern's agenda will be resolutely middle of the road [title]

2. (music, sometimes derogatory) Of a type of melodic popular music that has wide appeal.
   • 2015 September 10, Damon Albarn, quotee, “Damon Albarn suggests new Adele album is ‘very middle of the road’”, in The Guardian‎^[2]:

     Damon Albarn has disappointed fans expecting the third Adele album to take a drill’n’bass direction by saying that the tracks he has heard are “very middle of the road”.

Derived terms

• middle-of-the-roadness

Noun

middle of the road (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) The middle; the average.

   If us two competed together, we'd probably score just barely under the middle of the road.