to hedge
1
6.4
- verb
- /hɛdʒ/
- The gift came hedged around with warnings and restrictions, the greater part of which I have been able to circumvent or neutralize.
Examples
-
To his surprise, Christopher began to feel hedged in, impatient.
Fiction book (1993) -
We think we have a private, for-profit insurance system today, but we can only avoid its disturbing implications by hedging it in with public backstops and regulations.
Blog text (23) -
Several paper bags on the back seat hedge him in.
Fiction book (2002) -
I'm going to keep knocking on the Hong Kong door, but I'm going to hedge a little bit right there.
-
Public instrumental performance, however, remained highly problematic and hedged about with restrictions.
Academic text (1993) -
He was permitted to enjoy certain civil rights, but even these were hedged in by many restrictions and limitations.
Academic text (2017) -
He decided to hedge his bets by investing in multiple stocks rather than putting all his money into one.
-
The teacher requested that students hedge their claims with supporting evidence, encouraging careful reasoning.
-
In her speech, she hedged by stating that the proposal was subject to revision based on feedback.
Synonyms
233
4.6
Hold a person or thing so it cannot move freely
112
4.8
To keep something within set limits, for example in a room or a topic
111
4.2
Keep someone or something within limits, for example in a small space
74
3.5
To limit or control something to stop it getting worse
53
5.6
To limit what someone can do or how they can act
34
4.8
To stop people from entering a place by putting up a barrier
31
2.4
To put a barrier around land to mark or protect it
20
3.7
Stop something from growing or spreading
16
4.7
To stop a person or thing from moving, acting freely and making choices
13
3.0
To surround an area with a barrier to keep others out
10
6.4
To surround an area with a wall to protect it
6
3.7
Surround an area with a fence to stop people from entering
6
8.1
To keep something within certain limits
6
7.6
To make it difficult for someone or something to act
1
6.7
Surround a person or thing so they cannot leave
1
7.2
To limit someone's freedom, power, or plans
1
8.2
To stop a person or organization from making progress
1
5.8
Surround a place or person so they cannot move freely
1
7.7
To keep a person, idea, or feeling within strict limits
To block a place with things to stop people from entering
Antonyms
Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
To protect yourself from losing money by choosing different plans or investments
Compounds
- Specialized
80
6.3
A company that manages money for rich people and uses risky methods to try to make big profits
1
3.5
A row of privet bushes planted close together to make a living fence for a garden
1
8.8
A plant that lives for many years and spreads by underground stems in wet or shady places
- South African
1
9.9
A South African bush with sharp forked branches and fruit like small plums often planted as a fence
1
8.2
A climbing wildflower with twining stems and pink or white trumpet-shaped flowers
- UK
A plant from Europe with pink or white flowers whose leaves make soap when crushed
How Restrictive
Surface Forms
Etymology
To hedge in the sense 'to limit' comes from making a hedge or fence around something, so to hedge someone is to fence them in or set limits on what they can do.