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.

See Examples For:

fence-mending

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

Erdogan visited Athens in early December, and the two countries have since maintained regular high-level contacts to promote a variety of fence-mending initiatives, including educational exchanges and tourism.

From Seattle Times ● May 11, 2024

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

From New York Times ● Mar. 19, 2023

A planned fence-mending trip by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing was hastily scrubbed in the furor over the incident.

From Washington Times ● Feb. 22, 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