• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Language / How Did the Expression “Sitting On the Fence” For Someone Indecisive Originate and What Does the Idiom Mean?

How Did the Expression “Sitting On the Fence” For Someone Indecisive Originate and What Does the Idiom Mean?

February 23, 2020 by Karen Hill

During the Revolutionary War, a prominent New Jersey jurist, Judge Imlay, hadn’t yet committed to either the revolutionaries or the loyalists.

So when Washington encountered one of Imlay’s slaves he asked him which way the judge was leaning.

Washington was so amused by the response that he retold it enough times for it to become part of our language.

He said, “Until my master knows which is the strongest group, he’s staying on the fence.”

Related Facts

  • What Does the Expression "On a Wing and a Prayer" Mean and Where Did the Idiom Originate?
  • What Does the Expression "Never Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth" Mean and How Did the Idiom Originate?
  • What Does the Expression "When My Ship Comes In" Mean and How Did the Idiom Originate?
  • What Does the Expression "Pie In the Sky" Mean and Where Did the Idiom For a False Promise Originate?
  • Where Did the Expression "Run of the Mill" For Something Ordinary Originate and What Does the Idiom Mean?
  • What Does the Expression "Make No Bones About It" Mean and Where Did the Idiom Originate?

Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « What Does “All Hang Together” Mean and Where Did the Expression Come From?
Next Post: What Does “Having Your Back To the Wall” Mean and How Did the Expression “Going To the Wall” Originate? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy