How do you use "Friendly fire" in a sentence?

The soldiers were killed by friendly fire. The PM is taking friendly fire from his own backbenchers. That review felt like friendly fire from a colleague.

Friendly fire

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: Accidental attack on one's own forces; criticism from allies

误伤己方部队；来自盟友的批评

Ataque accidental a las propias fuerzas; críticas de aliados

味方への誤射、味方からの批判

아군 오사; 아군으로부터의 비판

Military term for inadvertent fire on one's own troops. Now used for any attack, criticism, or damage from one's own side or allies.

指误向己方军队开火的军事术语。现在用于描述来自己方或盟友的任何攻击、批评或损害。

Término militar para el fuego inadvertido sobre las propias tropas. Ahora se usa para cualquier ataque, crítica o daño proveniente del propio bando o aliados.

自軍の兵士に対する誤った射撃を意味する軍事用語。現在は味方やアライアンスからのあらゆる攻撃、批判、損害に使われる。

아군 병력에 대한 우발적 사격을 뜻하는 군사 용어. 현재는 자기 편이나 동료로부터의 공격, 비판 또는 피해를 가리킬 때 사용된다.

Examples

The soldiers were killed by friendly fire.
士兵们死于友军误伤
Los soldados murieron por fuego amigo
兵士たちは味方の誤射で死亡した
그 병사들은 아군의 오사로 전사했다.
The PM is taking friendly fire from his own backbenchers.
首相正遭到自己后座议员的抨击
El primer ministro recibe fuego amigo de sus propios diputados
首相は与党の平議員から批判を受けている
총리가 자당 평의원들로부터 비판을 받고 있다.
That review felt like friendly fire from a colleague.
那篇评论感觉像同事的背后一刀
Esa crítica se sintió como fuego amigo de un compañero
あの批評は同僚からの味方撃ちのようだった
그 비평은 동료로부터의 아군 사격 같았다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: military, politics, business

Tone: serious, ironic

✓ Do Say

Taking friendly fire
遭受友军误伤/来自己方的批评
Recibiendo fuego amigo
味方からの攻撃を受けている
아군 사격을 받다
Caught by friendly fire
被友军误伤/被己方批评
Alcanzado por fuego amigo
味方の誤射に巻き込まれた
아군 사격에 당하다

✗ Don't Say

Be sensitive about actual military incidents
对实际的军事事件要保持敏感
Ser sensible con los incidentes militares reales
実際の軍事事件については配慮すること
실제 군사 사건에 대해서는 주의가 필요

Common Mistakes

Using too lightly about real military situations

Origin & History

Military euphemism for the tragic occurrence of troops accidentally firing on their own forces. The term has extended to politics and business for criticism or attack from supposed allies.

Etymology: Military euphemism

First recorded: WWII era military

Cultural Context

Era: WWII onwards

Generation: All generations

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: War films; Political journalism

Regional notes: Universal English, military origin.

Variations

Friendly fireBlue on blue