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Glite Dictionary
on the fence

on the fence

30 4.8
Not decided about which side to take or what to do
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : indeciso
  • He remains on the fence regarding whether to accept the job offer.
  • sit on the fence

And if you don't pick, are you just on the fence?

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Examples

  • My partner is intrigued by your offer... but I'm still on the fence.

    Scoob! (2020)

  • I'm still on the fence.

    Rise (2014)

  • But I tell women who are really on the fence that it's not the time, right?

  • Are you one of those guys who always wanted to be a dad or were you on the fence about that?

  • We do not lead by sitting on the fence.

    Academic text (2009)

  • By the time the season started, I was on the fence about it.

    Blog text (10)

  • For those who were on the fence, it's time to get excited.

    Blog text (10)

  • Today, I'm on the fence about that.

  • For one, I'm on the fence about whether dating is really easier for men.

    Blog text (9)

  • Until last night, I was on the fence between Obama and Edwards.

    Blog text (15)

Synonyms

undecided
vson the fence
75 2.9

Not yet sure which option or side to choose

is about avoiding commitment to a side rather than mere indecision
noncommittal
vson the fence
10 7.0

Not giving a clear answer or opinion

is about not choosing a side rather than just staying silent

Antonyms

committed
79 4.0

Shows loyalty and works hard for a cause or group

decided
2.6

Very clear and easy to notice

How Decisive

committed
79 4.0
decided
2.6
inclined
194 3.8
on the fence
  • Informal
30 4.8
indecisive
16 4.3

Surface Forms

on the fence positive

Morphology

on + the + fence

The phrase draws on a concrete spatial image ('on' + 'fence') that can be metaphorically extended to being balanced between two sides, so a learner who knows the words can often infer a sense of indecision. However, the idiomatic mapping from the physical image to the abstract meaning 'undecided' is metaphorical and not fully predictable for all learners without exposure.

Etymology

On the fence comes from the image of someone sitting on a fence, able to go to either side but not choosing which one. That's why it means 'undecided' or 'not committed'.