The two countries were 'neutrals' while their neighbors were at war.
“Why did you do that?” he asked in a 'neutral' tone of voice.
He 'remained/stayed neutral' while his brothers argued.
(..) in the cove? Remember when we used to joyride in your dad's car, and when we brought it back, we had to shut the light off and put it in neutral and wheel it in the driveway? - So Dad wouldn't hear it. - Yeah. I will never forgive you, because you had the opportunity (..)2009 The Black Waters of Echo's Pond