Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
fence-mending. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
fence-mending, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
fence-mending in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
fence-mending you have here. The definition of the word
fence-mending will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
fence-mending, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Noun
fence-mending (uncountable)
- (politics) Social assistance given to a community in order to retain popularity with the electorate.
1972, David Kwavnick, Organized Labour and Pressure Politics, page 15:In summary, the recognition of the mandate of a group by government is useful not only to the group's leaders but to government as well. The existence and operations of organized groups introduce an element of stability into the political process; […] they enable government to carry on a continuous process of “fence mending” by continually drawing attention to the fences which require mending; […]
1995, Jack Bass, The Transformation of Southern Politics, page 295:Patronage and political fence mending had come to bore him.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see fence, mend.
Related terms
Further reading