above the fray

idiom

: not directly involved in an angry or difficult struggle or disagreement
His political aides handled the controversy while he remained above the fray.

Examples of above the fray in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Billy Strings and Jack White brought their coolly aloof swagger of being in the moment but above the fray of the grooving rhythms underpinning their virtuosity to Perkins songs. Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 Where others in white robes seemed to float above the fray, Francis waded into it. Jack Hill, Baltimore Sun, 23 Apr. 2025 Retailers aren’t out of the tariff woods just yet, but Costco will be able to stay above the fray. Kevin Stankiewicz,morgan Chittum, CNBC, 25 June 2025 Madigan, a savvy lawyer and old-school practitioner of Democratic machine politics, famously eschewed cellphones and email, and stayed largely above the fray while dozens of his colleagues were hauled off to prison over the years. Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for above the fray

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Above the fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/above%20the%20fray. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!