Synonyms for on fence
Grammar : Adj |
Spell : fens |
Phonetic Transcription : fɛns |
Top 10 synonyms for on fence
- aloof
- ambivalent
- astraddle
- betwixt and between
- blowing hot and cold
- borderline
- bystanding
- calm
- cautious
- changeable
- clinical
- cold
- collected
- conservative
- controlled
- cool
- cut loose
- debatable
- detached
- disciplined
- disengaged
- dispassionate
- dithering
- divided
- don't care
- dubious
- easy
- equal
- equivocal
- even
- even-handed
- fair
- faltering
- fence-sitting
- floating
- free-spirited
- halting
- hemming and hawing
- hesitating
- hot and cold
- iffy
- impartial
- impersonal
- in the middle
- inconclusive
- indecisive
- indefinite
- indeterminate
- indifferent
- inert
- inexpensive
- irresolute
- just
- laid-back
- middle ground
- middle of the road
- middle-of-road
- midway
- mild
- modest
- moot
- neuter
- neutral
- nonaligned
- nonbelligerent
- nonchalant
- noncombatant
- noncommittal
- nondiscriminatory
- nonparticipating
- nonpartisan
- not definite
- not excessive
- not sure
- objective
- of two minds
- on sidelines
- on the fence
- open
- open-minded
- pacifistic
- pendent
- pending
- poker-faced
- reasonable
- relaxed
- restrained
- running hot and cold
- spineless
- straight
- tentative
- torn
- unaffiliated
- unaligned
- unattached
- unbiased
- unbigoted
- uncertain
- unclear
- uncolored
- uncommitted
- unconcerned
- undecided
- undetermined
- uneventful
- unfinished
- uninterested
- uninvolved
- unpledged
- unprejudiced
- unsettled
- unstable
- unsure
- up in the air
- vacillating
- vague
- waffling
- wavering
- weak-kneed
- wishy-washy
- without guts
- yellow-bellied
Définition of on fence
Origin :- early 14c., "action of defending," shortening of defens (see defense). Spelling alternated between -c- and -s- in Middle English. Sense of "enclosure" is first recorded mid-15c. on notion of "that which serves as a defense." Sense of "dealer in stolen goods" is thieves' slang, first attested c.1700, from notion of such transactions taking place under defense of secrecy. To be figuratively on the fence "uncommitted" is from 1828, perhaps from the notion of spectators at a fight, or a simple literal image: "A man sitting on the top of a fence, can jump down on either side with equal facility." [Bartlett, "Dictionary of Americanisms," 1848].
- As in indecisive : adj uncertain, indefinite
- As in middle-of-the-road : adj moderate
- As in neutral : adj impartial, noncommittal
- As in on the fence : adj undecided
- As in unbiased : adj not prejudiced
- As in uncommitted : adj free; not involved
- As in undecided : adj not sure, not definite
- As in weak-minded : adj indecisive
- As in nonaligned : adj neutral
- As in uninvolved : adj neutral
Antonyms for on fence
- active
- agitated
- aligned
- attached
- biased
- bright
- caring
- certain
- clear
- committal
- committed
- concerned
- decided
- decisive
- definite
- deliberate
- determined
- excited
- interested
- involved
- loud
- partial
- passionate
- predisposed
- prejudiced
- resolved
- secure
- settled
- strong
- subjective
- sure
- undoubted
- unfair
- united
- unjust
- working
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019