Word of the day
Avoiding a decision between two sides
idiom
The English word
sit on the fence
English never changes here, whatever language you are reading in.
When to use it
The picture is of someone perched on the barrier between two fields, refusing to climb down on either side. Use it for a person who will not commit to one opinion or party in a disagreement. The tone is mildly critical: it suggests avoiding responsibility rather than careful neutrality, which makes it popular in discussions and opinion writing. The form is fixed; only the verb changes for tense.
Examples
The minister sat on the fence, refusing to back either proposal.
You can't sit on the fence forever - we need your answer by Monday.
Goes with
sit on the fence about an issue
stop sitting on the fence
still sitting on the fence
Check yourself
Complete the sentence with the English word above.
1. Stop sitting on the ___ and tell us what you really think.
Show the answer
fence