- a structure made of wood or wire supported with posts that is put between two areas of land as a boundary, or around a garden, field, etc. to keep animals in, or to keep people and animals out
- The two women chatted over the garden fence.
- Security guards with dogs patrolled the perimeter fence.
- The footpath was blocked by a barbed wire fence.
- The house was surrounded by a white picket fence.
Extra ExamplesTopics Gardensb1, Farmingb1- She walked over to the tall wooden privacy fence.
- There was a cottage garden at the front and a white picket fence.
- a fence around the site
- the airport perimeter fence
- the fence line separating the United States from Mexico
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- high
- tall
- low
- …
- build
- erect
- put up
- …
- post
- line
- over a/the fence
- fence around
- fence round
- …
Definitions on the go
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- a structure that horses must jump over in a race or a competition
- (informal) a criminal who buys and sells stolen goods see also ring fence
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘defending, defence’): shortening of defence. Compare with fend.
Idioms
See fence in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee fence in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishthe grass is (always) greener on the other side (of the fence)
- (saying) said about people who never seem happy with what they have and always think they could be happier in a different place or situation
mend (your) fences (with somebody)
- to find a solution when you disagree with somebody
- The White House already is struggling to mend fences with Europe.
- Is it too late to mend fences with your ex-wife?
side of the fence
(North American English also side of the aisle)
- used to refer to either of two opposite opinions on an issue
- The two countries are often on opposite sides of the fence when it comes to climate change.
- There are arguments on both sides of the aisle.
Extra Examples- On the other side of the fence there is anger at the reforms.
- It is a proposal approved by people on both sides of the political fence.
sit on the fence
- to avoid becoming involved in deciding or influencing something
- He tends to sit on the fence at meetings.
Check pronunciation:
fence