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Glite Dictionary
to build a fence

to build a fence

7 1.8
To make a barrier of wood, metal, or wire around land to keep animals and people out
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : construir una cerca
  • My dad worked on building a fence, and my mom and I worked on locating all of the antique haunts around town.
  • build a fence to keep
  • want to build a fence
  • build a fence to protect

When he was a young kid, his dad was building a fence around the backyard of the house and young Steve was helping with his hammer.

Examples

  • When he was a young kid, his dad was building a fence around the backyard of the house and young Steve was helping with his hammer.

    Jay Shetty Podcast

  • I built a fence that afternoon on my break between morning and evening at the Club.

    Blog text (6)

  • When Steve was young, he and his father built a fence around the back backyard and their house and little town in California.

  • We're going to have to build a fence around you two just to keep the riffraff off.

    The Work and the Glory (2004)

  • After realizing their dog kept escaping, they decided to build a fence around the yard for security.

  • To keep the deer out of the garden, she plans to build a fence using wooden panels.

  • He learned how to build a fence by watching instructional videos online.

Synonyms

to enclose
vsto build a fence
84 3.7

Surround something completely, often with a wall or fence

is specifically about making a barrier around property for privacy or protection
to wall
vsto build a fence
41 6.4

To surround an area with a wall to protect it

uses a lighter or removable barrier around property mainly for privacy or protection
to fence off
vsto build a fence
4 3.7

Surround an area with a fence to stop people from entering

is done to protect property and provide privacy rather than only block access
to fence in
vsto build a fence
3 3.0

To surround an area with a barrier to keep others out

is used to create a property barrier mainly for protection and privacy

Antonyms

to remove
∞ 1.5

To move something or someone away from a place

to demolish
54 3.7

Completely destroy a building or large structure

How Protective

to fortify
3 5.1
to wall
41 6.4
to build a fence
7 1.8

Surface Forms

build a fence infinitive
built a fence past
built a fence past participle
building a fence present participle
builds a fence third person singular

Morphology

build + a + fence

The meaning 'to construct a barrier' is directly and transparently derivable from combining 'build' (to construct) with 'fence' (a barrier); the article 'a' does not change the compositional meaning. This verb + noun construction is literal and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily understand it.

Etymology

Build a fence comes from the simple act of putting posts and boards into the ground to make a fence that keeps people or animals out. So it means 'to create a clear boundary' or 'to protect' an area.