Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

Sit on the fence

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Sit on the fence" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourProblem Solving & Interaction collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Problem Solving & Interaction

Sit on the fence

Sit on the fence
To delay making a decision, avoid choosing between two sides in an argument, or remain neutral.
History & Origin

The idiom originates from the physical imagery of a property boundary marker, where a fence separates two distinct plots of land. Dating back to the early 19th century, it was popularized in American political slang to describe politicians who refused to commit to a political party or vote, literally sitting between two sides. The metaphor highlights that balancing on a narrow fence is both uncomfortably difficult and ultimately unsustainable.

Examples
Workplace Email

Management cannot afford to sit on the fence any longer regarding the remote work policy; the team needs a clear decision by Friday.

Casual Conversation

Stop sitting on the fence and just tell me whether you want to go to the Italian restaurant or the sushi place tonight!

Academic Writing

While early economists chose to sit on the fence regarding market intervention, modern theorists actively advocate for targeted government regulations.

News/Media

With the elections only a week away, the senator continues to sit on the fence on the controversial tax reform bill to avoid alienating undecided voters.

Formal Speech

In times of global crisis, international organizations must not sit on the fence; they must decisively condemn violations of international law.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. After researching both laptops for hours, I decided to sit on the fence and bought the silver one because it had a faster processor.

B. The project manager is sitting on the fence between upgrading our software or training the staff, as she remains completely undecided on the best path forward.

C. We need to sit on the fence immediately to stop our competitors from stealing our ideas and taking over our market share.

D. She sat on the fence during the entire marathon, which allowed her to preserve her energy and finish in first place.