What is the Origin of the Phrase ‘Mend Fences’?

And what does it mean?

To mend fences means to improve strained relations; to resolve disagreements; to restore relations with someone you have fought with.

This phrase has probably evolved from a 17th-century proverb —

“Good fences make good neighbors”.

So seemingly, bad fences make bad neighbors. Thus, mending your fences is like improving your relations with your neighbors.

Over time, this phrase came to refer to “rebuilding the previously cordial relations.”

For example —

“The two brothers fought their entire life, but after the death of their mother, they have decided to mend fences and live in harmony.”

It means that after their mother’s death, they resolved all disagreements and repaired their strained relationship with each other and lived in harmony.

I hope you found this story interesting. If you did, buy my full course on Udemy, or watch it for free on Skillshare by signing up here. This course covers nearly 380 idioms with their origins and backstories.

Hi, I am Gauri Shanker, a Vocab teacher and enthusiast. I teach vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. You can check out my courses here.