APAD: butter both sides of the bread

Definition

   to try to benefit from two opposite or contradictory things

 

Examples

   1) The politician was accused of buttering both sides of the bread by

      promising to help both the left and the right.

   2) The businessman was trying to butter both sides of the bread by making

      deals with both the government and the rebels.

 

Etymology

   The phrase is thought to have originated in the early 1900s as a metaphor for

   trying to please everyone, even if their interests are opposed.

 

Synonyms

   weigh both sides, explore all angles, leave nothing out

 

- englishdaily626.com [edited]

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As someone who always butters one side of the bread, say when making a grilled

cheese sandwich, I'd better stay away from business and politics.