Sit on the fence is the picture of a person who will not climb down on either side. Two opinions face each other, and the fence-sitter stays balanced on top, choosing neither.
The phrase can be neutral or critical. Staying out of a family quarrel may be wise; avoiding a decision at work may look weak. The context decides the tone.
This page explains the meaning, the grammar, the register and the related phrases. The 10-question drill at the end explains every answer.
What it means
In one sentence: To sit on the fence means to avoid taking sides or making a choice between two opposing views.
What the idiom means in everyday English
- It means staying neutral: "The mayor is sitting on the fence about the new road."
- The person has a choice to make and delays it, often to avoid upsetting anyone.
- It can describe a person or an organisation: "The company is sitting on the fence over the deal."
- The tone is often mildly critical, suggesting that a decision is needed.
How the idiom behaves in a sentence
- The fixed pattern is sit on the fence: "He is still sitting on the fence."
- It is often used in the continuous form: is sitting, was sitting, has been sitting.
- You can add about or over a topic: sit on the fence about the election, over the new policy.
- The noun is fence-sitter, and the adjective is fence-sitting: "a fence-sitting answer".
When the idiom does not fit
- It is not for a genuine neutral role, such as a judge or a referee; those people should stay neutral.
- Do not use it when the person simply has no opinion; the idiom suggests a choice is being avoided.
- Avoid it in formal writing when you mean "neutral"; that word is neutral itself.
- Do not use it for a physical fence, of course.
Use it or not
Register: Neutral to informal. Sit on the fence is common in conversation, politics and business writing. It often carries gentle criticism: the speaker thinks a decision should be made. It is not a strong insult. In formal writing, use "remained neutral" or "declined to take a position".
Examples
- The board is sitting on the fence about the new office.About names the decision they are avoiding.
- You cannot sit on the fence for ever; you have to choose a side.The idiom often follows cannot or will not.
- He sat on the fence during the whole argument.The past form describes the time of the quarrel.
- The newspaper is often accused of sitting on the fence.The accusation is mild but clear.
- She has been sitting on the fence about the offer for two weeks.The present perfect continuous shows an ongoing delay.
- A fence-sitter rarely wins friends on either side.Fence-sitter is the noun form.
- We cannot afford to sit on the fence any longer.The idiom contrasts delay with the need to decide.
Similar idioms
be undecided
the plain phrase for not having made a choice.
hedge your bets
to avoid committing to one option, often to keep your chances.
straddle the issue
to avoid a clear position on a question.
keep your options open
to avoid a final decision so that you can choose later.
play it safe
to avoid risk, often by not choosing.
Practice drill
Answer all 10 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the meaning is explained under the question.
The two teams want his support, but he keeps ___.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. sitting on the fence Sit on the fence means to avoid taking sides, which fits the person keeping both teams waiting.
Which sentence uses sit on the fence correctly?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. The mayor is sitting on the fence about the new road. The idiom means avoiding a decision, so the sentence about the road is correct; the others are literal or reversed.
What does sit on the fence mean?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. to avoid choosing a side Sit on the fence means staying neutral and avoiding a choice between two sides.
A decision must be made, but the manager keeps delaying. What is the manager doing?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. sitting on the fence Delaying a decision and staying neutral is exactly what sitting on the fence means.
Which situation fits sit on the fence?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. a politician who will not answer a yes or no question The idiom describes someone avoiding a clear position, so the politician who refuses to answer fits.
Choose the sentence with the same meaning: "He is sitting on the fence."
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. He is avoiding a decision. Sit on the fence means to stay neutral and avoid choosing, so avoiding a decision is the same idea.
Which is correct?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. She is sitting on the fence about the plan. The fixed phrase keeps on and the singular fence with the: sit on the fence.
Your friend has been invited to two weddings on the same day and will not choose. What can you say?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. You cannot sit on the fence for ever. The idiom warns that a choice cannot be delayed for ever, which fits the two weddings.
Which sentence does NOT use the idiom correctly?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. The cat sat on the fence and watched the birds. The last sentence is about a real cat on a real fence; the idiom means avoiding a decision.
A journalist asks the candidate a direct question and gets a vague answer. What is the candidate doing?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. sitting on the fence A vague answer that avoids a clear position is the political version of sitting on the fence.
Questions learners ask
Is sit on the fence formal or informal?
It is neutral to informal. It fits conversation, politics and business writing. In a formal report, write "remained neutral" or "declined to take a position".
Is sitting on the fence always bad?
No. In a private argument between two friends, staying neutral can be kind and wise. The mild criticism appears when a real decision is being avoided and others need an answer.
What is a fence-sitter?
A fence-sitter is a person who avoids taking sides. The word comes directly from the idiom and is often used in politics for voters or politicians who will not commit to an option.
More idioms
Beat around the bush
To beat around the bush is to avoid the main point and talk about everything except what matters.
Go the extra mile
To go the extra mile is to make more effort than expected, so that someone is helped or a job is done especially well.
When pigs fly
If you say something will happen when pigs fly, you mean it will never happen.
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