Phrase guide

mend fences

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To repair damage to a friendship or relationship after a disagreement or other mishap.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I don't think he was very happy with my work, so I'm going to talk to him and try to mend fences.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Spanish: limar asperezas — Translations