sit on the fence

present singular third person sits on the fence · participle present sitting on the fence · participle past sat on the fence · past sat on the fence

1. idiomaticintransitiveTo remain neutral on a certain topic, to not have a stance or opinion.

   The curate refused to label himself; so the squire growled, "Oh, you sit on the fence, do you?"

   1956, Theology, Great Britain: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, page 22

   3 more examples

   and Bloomah will sometimes sit on the fence, concerning whose discretion, the same thing may be said...

   1897, John James Procter, The philosopher in the clearing, page 240

   Elijah stepped forward and said to the people, "How long will you sit on the fence? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him."

   1972, Joseph Robinson, The first book of Kings, page 207

   We won’t win if we sit on the fence about the most crucial issue that has faced our country for a generation.

   2019 April 20, Tom Watson, “Labour can’t defeat Nigel Farage by sitting on the fence”, in The Observer, →ISSN, archived from the original on 18 Aug 2019