remain neutral.
To remain neutral, to refuse to take sides in a dispute; often used in a derogatory way about someone who lacks the courage to decide: “The councilman is afraid he’ll lose votes if he takes sides on the zoning issue, but he can’t sit on the fence forever.”
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What does the idiom sit on the fence means?
“Sitting on the fence” is a common idiom used in English to describe a person’s lack of decisiveness, neutrality or hesitance to choose between two sides in an argument or a competition, or inability to decide due to lack of courage.
Where does the phrase sitting on the fence come from?
The term came from the Algonquin ‘Mugquomp’, meaning ‘important person’. The term was not used as a mark of respect, but of derision. They were described by their opponents as birds sitting on a fence, with their mug on one side and their wump on the other. Ironically, they weren’t sitting on the fence at all.
What is the sentence of sit on the fence?
Example Sentences
It would be good if you stop sitting on the fence and choose whose side you are on. He did not want to say no to either of them, so he was just sitting on the fence. She did not know whether to say yes or no to the proposal, she was sitting on the fence.
What is the idiom for have a heart?
idiom. to show kindness and sympathy: Please let me go to the party – have a heart!
Why do we say Speaking of the devil?
The term is a shortened version of the phrase, Speak of the Devil and he will appear. This proverb appears in England during the Middle Ages as an admonition against the danger of uttering the name of the Devil, Satan or Lucifer.
What is another way to say on the fence?
What is another word for on the fence?
| ambivalent | borderline |
|---|---|
| debatable | divided |
| equivocal | hesitant |
| iffy | impartial |
| indecisive | irresolute |
What are the consequences of sitting on the fence?
If you’re “sitting on the fence,” it means you are between deciding on two outcomes. You are unsure about which way to go with your decision, and people pressure you to finalize your choice. It has political origins, but it often appears in our everyday lives to describe indecisiveness.
Is it okay to sit on the fence?
“Sitting on the fence” is a common idiom used in English to describe a person’s lack of decisiveness, neutrality or hesitance to choose between two sides in an argument or a competition, or inability to decide due to lack of courage.
Which country sits on the fence?
In other words, “in the context that history now places Finland”, the best option, according to the Finnish president, is to sit on the fence. This all is disappointing news to those Finns hoping for fresh ideas – perhaps even a new direction on NATO – after the 12-year presidency of Tarja Halonen.
What is the meaning of the idiom miss the boat?
Fail to take advantage of an opportunity, as in Jean missed the boat on that club membership. This expression, which alludes to not being in time to catch a boat, has been applied more widely since the 1920s. 2. Fail to understand something, as in I’m afraid our legislator missed the boat on that amendment to the bill.
What is an idiom for love?
Head over heels in love – So in love it’s like your whole world is turned upside down. Fancy someone – To be attracted to someone. I love you to death – I love you more than life itself. I think you hung the moon – I admire you and think you’re wonderful.
What is the meaning of apple of eye?
Definition of the apple of someone’s eye
: a person or thing that someone loves very much His daughter is the apple of his eye.
What means eat your heart out?
grief
Feel bitter anguish, grief, worry, jealousy, or another strong negative emotion. For example, She is still eating her heart out over being fired, or Eat your heart out—my new car is being delivered today. This hyperbolic expression alludes to strong feelings gnawing at one’s heart. [
How do you call the devil?
666 (number)
| ← 665 666 667 → | |
|---|---|
| List of numbers — Integers ← 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 → | |
| Cardinal | six hundred sixty-six |
| Ordinal | 666th (six hundred sixty-sixth) |
| Factorization | 2 × 32 × 37 |
What does it mean to be under the weather?
Indisposed, unwell
Indisposed, unwell: “The day after the big party, Jay had to call in sick, saying he was feeling under the weather.”
What does the phrase the last straw mean?
Definition of the final/last straw
: the last in a series of bad things that happen to make someone very upset, angry, etc. It had been a difficult week, so when the car broke down, it was the last straw.
Are you still on the fence?
Being on the fence means you really just can’t decide. It’s as if you’re sitting on the fence because you can’t decide which yard to play in. If you can’t decide whether to take a job or not, you’re on the fence. If you don’t know which basketball team to root for, you’re on the fence.
What do you call someone who is undecided?
ambivalent, doubtful, hesitant, uncertain, unclear, uncommitted, undetermined, unsure, vague, wavering, betwixt and between, borderline, debatable, dithering, dubious, equivocal, iffy, indecisive, indefinite, irresolute.
What does one in a blue moon mean?
very rarely
“Once in a blue moon” is a common expression that has been used for a long time, and which means ‘not very often,’ or ‘very rarely. ‘ It often refers to an extra full moon; however, it has been used to describe the way the moon actually looked, when for different reasons it had turned a blueish color.
What is the meaning of the best of both worlds?
Definition of the best of both worlds
: all the advantages of two different situations and none of the disadvantages I have the best of both worlds—a wonderful family and a great job.