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Glite Dictionary
to fence-sit

to fence-sit

8.1
Stay neutral and not choose a side in a disagreement
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈfɛnsˌsɪt/
  • Informal
translation icon : no tomar partido
  • When asked about the controversial proposal, he chose to fence-sit rather than express his opinion.

Examples

  • During the heated debate, she decided to fence-sit instead of taking a stance on the issue.

  • I will fence-sit and equivocate as usual: I can see both sides.

    Blog text (23)

  • His tendency to fence-sit annoys his friends who want him to choose a side.

Synonyms

to straddle
vsto fence-sit
13 6.6

To avoid choosing a side in a disagreement

is more about staying neutral or undecided than deliberate avoidance
to stand shilly-shally
vsto fence-sit
  • Archaic
9.9

To be unsure and not decide

is more about staying neutral and not choosing a side than wavering

Antonyms

to decide
∞ 1.0

To make a choice after thinking about the options

to take sides
39 3.1

To support one side in an argument

How Decided

to commit
∞ 3.3
to decide
∞ 1.0
to fence-sit
  • Informal
8.1
to waver
52 5.7
to hesitate
318 2.5

Surface Forms

fence-sit infinitive
fence-sitting present participle
fence-sits third person singular
fence-sat past
fence-sat past participle

Morphology

fence-sit = fence + sit (semi-transparent) = fence + sit

The verb is a compound of 'fence' + 'sit' reflecting the idiom 'sit on the fence'; the metaphorical meaning 'remain neutral' is fairly guessable but idiomatic.

Etymology

The word fence-sit comes from the image of someone 'sitting on the fence', like sitting between two sides and not picking either. So to fence-sit is to stay 'neutral' or 'indecisive' when you do not want to take a side.