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fence-mending

American

[fens-men-ding] / ˈfɛnsˌmɛn dɪŋ /

noun

the practice of reestablishing or strengthening personal, business, or political contacts and relationships by conciliation or negotiation, as after a dispute, disagreement, or period of inactivity.

adjective

of, relating to, or promoting fence-mending.

Etymology

Origin of fence-mending

1940–45;

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But after the harsh words from Ecowas and Senegal he may now have to engage in some serious fence-mending in West Africa.

From BBC • Aug. 11, 2024

The letter served as a belated fence-mending after Francis was criticized for his initial response to the Oct.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 4, 2024

The clash over the balloon led Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken to abruptly cancel a planned fence-mending trip to Beijing to try to address rising tensions in the bilateral relationship.

From Washington Times • Apr. 3, 2023

Mr. Sunak has set off on a grand fence-mending tour.

From New York Times • Mar. 19, 2023

SM/2 Broderick MacNeil kept a firm grip on his blast rifle and looked around at the surrounding jungle, meanwhile thanking whatever gods there were that he hadn’t been put on the fence-mending detail.

From Cum Grano Salis by Garrett, Randall

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023