middle of the road
Neither extreme position
Middle of the road describes a moderate position, avoiding extremes on either side.
In politics, a middle-of-the-road candidate appeals to centrists: Her middle-of-the-road stance on taxes won over undecided voters.
The phrase often implies playing it safe or lacking boldness: The album was criticized as too middle of the road.
In music, it labels inoffensive, broadly appealing pop.
Lessen intensity or preside
- centristOne favoring middle positions
- bipartisanInvolving both major parties
- nonpartisanNot aligned politically
- independentFree from external control
swing voter · undecided · compromise · mainstream · pragmatic · third way · fence-sitter · purple state
Arithmetic mean or ordinary
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
- ordinaryStandard, unremarkable
- mediocreOf only moderate quality
- so-soIndifferently average quality
passable · mundane · vanilla · plain · forgettable · undistinguished · unexceptional · commonplace
moderate
Lessen intensity or preside
- centristOne favoring middle positions
- bipartisanInvolving both major parties
- nonpartisanNot aligned politically
independent · swing voter · undecided · compromise · mainstream · pragmatic · third way · fence-sitter · purple state · big tent
average
Arithmetic mean or ordinary
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
- ordinaryStandard, unremarkable
- mediocreOf only moderate quality
so-so · passable · mundane · vanilla · plain · forgettable · undistinguished · unexceptional · commonplace · bland
- Standards & Benchmarksbenchmark, yardstick, gold standard, litmus test, acid test
- soft rockAir Supply, Barry Manilow, Carole King, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac
- filler contentfiller, fluff, pablum, boilerplate, lorem ipsum
middle of the roadedgy
Tense and irritable
avant-garde · daring · bold · unconventional · cutting-edge