Meaning & Origin
“Sit on the fence” means to stay neutral or undecided when a choice is needed — avoiding commitment to either side. The image is literal: sitting on a fence between two fields rather than stepping into one. It’s common in politics, business, and everyday talk.
Pronunciation Guide
- sit — short “i,” like “sit.”
- on the — often reduced to “on thuh.”
- fence — sounds like “fens.”
- Natural rhythm: SIT on the FENCE.
Usage & Sentence Examples
Use it when someone avoids a decision or refuses to take a stance.
- Leadership can’t sit on the fence — pick a pricing model.
- He sat on the fence until the vote was over.
- Don’t sit on the fence; tell us which roadmap you support.
- Investors think we’re sitting on the fence about the pivot.
- She’s sitting on the fence to avoid upsetting either team.
- If we keep sitting on the fence, competitors will pass us.
Synonyms
stay neutral · be undecided · hedge · waver · straddle the fence · avoid taking a stance
.svg)
.png)
.webp)
