sit on the fence

1. 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.”

Related Words

• cease
• forgo
• pass up
• quit
• refrain
• renounce
• shun
• withhold