Modul 5: Idiom 39: On the Fence
Video 01
On the Fence
Hi. Let’s take a look at the Idiom, ‘On the Fence.’ If somebody is on the fence, it means that they are unable to decide about something. Have you ever been in that position where you are at a restaurant and the waiter is asking you what you’d like to eat but you just can’t decide between two meals? You are on the fence.
So what is the origin of this idiom?
The phrase ‘on the fence’ is a reference to fences that section different peoples’ lands. There are fences in your garden that separate your garden from your neighbour’s garden. And if someone was sitting on top of the fence, then they would be in neither your garden or your neighbour’s garden because they are split in the middle.
Take a look at our illustration.
Can you see the man balancing on the fences? Here he is literally on the fence. He is on neither side of the fence. On each side, there is a girl who loves him but he doesn’t know who to choose. Take a look at his face. He looks confused, right? The man is shrugging. Like this. He’s unsure of which side to stand on. He is on the fence about which side and which girl to go to.
Here are some examples before we go to the concept questions…
“Do I have the lemon pie or the sticky toffee pudding? I don’t know, I’m on the fence.”
“Are you still on the fence? I can offer you an incentive if you join our team.” An incentive can be anything that motivates you. In a business situation, it can be a company car or a bonus.
“Harry is on the fence about who to vote for in the election, but I think it’s simple enough.”
“I think if we go on the motorway it’ll be a quicker journey, but there could be lots of traffic. I’m on the fence about which route to take.”
“I hate being on the fence about things! Can someone just make the decision for me?”
Great.
Let’s look at some situations and check your understanding:
- Penelope was watching her son with pride as he made it to his tennis final. Was she on the fence about whether she wanted him or his opponent to win? No. She definitely wanted her son to win.
- Calvin’s grandmother had knitted him a bright pink pullover to keep him warm in the gym at boxing practice. She would be picking him up outside the gym tonight to give him a lift home – you know to take him home in her car. Do you think that Calvin was on the fence about whether to wear the pink pullover? Yes. He must have been embarrassed to wear the pullover in front of his friends.
- Damian had two job offers: one had a better starting salary, but the other had better promotion opportunities. Was Damien on the fence? Yes. He found it hard to decide between having more money or a better career opportunity in the future.
- Derek is a vegetarian and he’s looking at the menu in a restaurant. The choice is rump steak or a pea and mint risotto. Is Derek on the fence about what to choose? No. He doesn’t eat meat, so he’ll choose the risotto.
- Sandra had won two tickets to a concert of her favourite band. Was she on the fence about whether to give the other ticket to her best friend or to a complete stranger? No. She would obviously enjoy the concert with her best friend.
Great. Now go and practise. See you soon.