serve two masters

verb

To take orders from two superiors or two conflicting parties.

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Meanings

verbserve two masters (third-person singular simple present serves two masters, present participle serving two masters, simple past and past participle served two masters)

present singular third person serves two masters · participle present serving two masters · participle past served two masters · past served two masters

  1. idiomaticTo take orders from two superiors or two conflicting parties.

    I suspect that Mr Paisley would have been familiar with the biblical quotation: "No man can serve two masters - you cannot serve God and Mammon" (Matthew 6 v 24).

    2017 September 1, “Paisley faltered in bid to serve two masters”, in Belfast Telegraph

Origin

From Matthew 6:24 in the Bible.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

serve two masters. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/serve%20two%20masters

MLA

“serve two masters.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/serve%20two%20masters. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “serve two masters,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/serve%20two%20masters.

Source: serve two masters on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.