middle ground

an intermediate position, area, or recourse between two opposites or extremes; a halfway or neutral standpoint.

Nautical. a length of comparatively shallow water having channels on both sides.

Origin of middle ground

First recorded in 1775–85

“I have chosen a ‘middle-ground’ method of moderation, a sort of behind-the-scenes prodding,” he wrote in a posting.

You Can Look It Up: The Wikipedia Story |Walter Isaacson |October 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The latest research suggests a middle-ground, and it's worth looking at what they were trading.

Every Viking ‘Fact’ Is Wrong |Nico Hines |March 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
This McClatchy-Marist poll tells us that a middle-ground approach would be popular across the board.

How Republicans Are Duping Members of Their Own Party |Michael Tomasky |December 13, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Then the work passes to the middle-ground painters, who have their half-tone pots within easy reach.

Amos Kilbright; His Adscititious Experiences |Frank R. Stockton

Between these two points is no middle-ground, either in the fields of Art or of Religion.

Garden-Craft Old and New |John D. Sedding
And yet I return to a prior stand-point and insist that there is a middle-ground, even here, the juste milieu, as the French say.

The American Gentleman's Guide to Politeness and Fashion |Henry Lunettes
It would be difficult to find a middle-ground and distance surpassing those of this picture.

The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, June 1844 |Various
An island has formed and is still growing near the mouth of the Wang-poo, known to pilots as the "middle-ground."

The Siberian Overland Route from Peking to Petersburg, |Alexander Michie

middle ground

another term for middle distance See middle-distance (def. 2)

a position of compromise between two opposing views, parties, etc