Rise above the fray

Posted by ESC on June 23, 2006

In Reply to: Rise above the fray Posted by Jilian on June 23, 2006

: Origin of the phrase(s): Rise above the fray or above the fray.
: Thank you.

This meaning of fray is "a usually disorderly or protracted fight, struggle, or dispute." (Merriam-Webster online) If one is above the fray, you are looking down on the struggles of others. The image that it calls to my mind is a king or general up on a mountaintop looking down at soldiers fighting.