sit on the fence
/ˌsɪt ɒn ðə ˈfens/INFORMAL · B2
Meaning
to avoid choosing between two sides or options
Examples
- 1When my sisters argue, I try to sit on the fence and stay out of it.
- 2The council is still sitting on the fence about the new cycle lane.
- 3The team needs a clear answer from you today, so please stop sitting on the fence.
- 4Tom sat on the fence during the whole debate, so neither team trusted him afterwards.
- 5Are you going to back Maria’s plan or just sit on the fence again?
Grammar
Only sit changes: sits, sitting, sat. The subject of the decision can follow with about or over.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about decisions
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →make up your mindto decide what to do or which thing to choosesleep on itto wait until the next day before deciding somethingtake the plungeto finally decide to do something important or riskya no-brainera decision or choice that is very easychicken outto decide not to do something because you are scaredbite the bulletto make yourself do something unpleasant you have been avoiding
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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