brother against brother
Sibling versus sibling
Brother against brother describes conflict between people who should be allies—family members, countrymen, or those sharing close bonds.
The phrase evokes civil war, where former neighbors and even literal brothers fight on opposing sides: The American Civil War pitted brother against brother.
It emphasizes the particular tragedy of internal division over external conflict.
- civilMinimally polite
- civil warDomestic armed conflict
- warArmed struggle between groups
- house dividedHome torn by conflict
- strifeAngry, prolonged conflict
rivalry · feud · blood feud · betrayal · Cain · Abel · divided · blood · family ties · fratricide · conflict · family · loyalty · torn · torn apart · battlefield · blue · gray
brother against brotherforeign invasion
Military entry by outsiders
international conflict · defensive war · us versus them · colonial resistance · war of independence
brother against brotherunited we stand
Motto of collective strength
band of brothers · national unity · solidarity · shoulder to shoulder · common cause
brother against brotherbrotherly love
Warm bond between kin
family loyalty · blood is thicker than water · kith and kin · keeping the faith · domestic tranquility
brother, brothers, brotherly, brotherhood, brethren, fraternal, fraternity, fraternize, against