Is "be too much opposite sides of the pole" a common idiom? Here's an extract from The catcher in the rye by J. D. Salinger; "I guess I will," I said. "I'd like to put some sense in that head of yours, boy. I'm trying to help you. I'm trying to help you, if I can." He really was, too. You could see that. But it was just that we were too much on opposite sides ot the pole, that's all. "I know you are, sir," I said. "Thanks a lot. No kidding. I appreciate it. I really do." I got up from the bed then. Boy, I couldn't've sat there another ten minutes to save my life.