drive a wedge
Force people apart
To drive a wedge between people or groups is to create division or conflict where there was unity.
The image is of splitting wood—forcing a wedge into a crack widens it until the material separates completely.
His comments drove a wedge between the two allies.
She's trying to drive a wedge between us.
- alienateCause emotional distance
- pit againstSet in opposition
- breachBreaking of agreement
- splitSeparation into parts
- disuniteCause to separate
sow discord · discord · estrangement · bad blood · antagonism · rift · sever · fracture · hostility · divide · disharmony · cleave · come between · polarization · schism · tear apart · part · disrupt
drive a wedgebring together
Cause to meet
unite · reconcile · bridge the gap · mend fences · build bridges
drive a wedgemake peace
Resolve conflict between parties
mediate · pour oil on troubled waters · find common ground · bury the hatchet · arbitrate
drive a wedgehold together
Remain unified, not fragment
unify · solidify · cement · fuse · consolidate
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