Question of the Day #34

"Have you decided whether you're going to the party or not?"
"No, I'm still on the fence about it."

上記の会話で、on the fenceの意味は？
In the dialogue above, what does "on the fence" mean?

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Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

意味：どっちつかずの態度で、中立の、まだ決定していない

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

1. undecided about something. (*Typically: be ~; sit ~.)
2. not able to decide something
3. Undecided as to which of two sides to support; uncommitted or neutral.

Etymology/語源

Online Etymology Dictionaryによると、「どっちつかずの態度で、中立の」の意味で初めて使われたのが、1828年頃とのこと。（より詳しい説明は、下記英語またはリンクを参照。）

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary:

To be figuratively on the fence "uncommitted" is from 1828, perhaps from the notion of spectators at a fight, or a simple literal image: "A man sitting on the top of a fence, can jump down on either side with equal facility." [Bartlett, "Dictionary of Americanisms," 1848].

Examples

• Ann is on the fence about going to Mexico. I wouldn't be on the fence. I'd love to go.
• Many consumers are still on the fence, waiting to see if a better, less expensive computer will come along.
• Most people sit on the fence and would rather say "maybe" than "yes" or "no."
• “some who had been on the fence came out in favor of the plan”