fence-mending
Patching things up
Fence-mending is the work of repairing damaged relationships, especially in politics.
A politician returns to their district for fence-mending with constituents, or engages in fence-mending after a public dispute with allies.
The image comes from the literal task of maintaining fences between neighboring properties—neglected boundaries cause problems.
After the leaked emails, there was serious fence-mending to do.
Reestablishment of harmonious relations
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- healingRestoration of health
- apologyStatement acknowledging wrongdoing
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
olive-branch · détente · restoration · reunion · pardon · resolution · rebuilding · renewal
Discussion seeking mutual accord
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- treatyBinding pact between nations
- statecraftArt of government
envoy · ambassador · back-channel · protocol · communiqué · détente · geopolitics · bilateral
Agreement through mutual sacrifice
- concessionYielding a point
- agreementShared position between parties
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
bargaining · give-and-take · middle-ground · trade-off · deal · adjustment · balancing · arbitration
Confidence in another
- communicationExchanging ideas or information
- apologyStatement acknowledging wrongdoing
- empathySharing another's emotions
- listeningAttending to sound
patience · sincerity · understanding · rebuilding · commitment · respect · closeness · reconnecting
Published online content
- wireThin metallic conductor
- picketsProtesters outside a workplace
- railsGuiding metal bars
- lumberSawn wood for building
nails · hammer · staples · chain-link · tools · fixing · maintenance · stretching
rapprochement
Reestablishment of harmonious relations
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- healingRestoration of health
- apologyStatement acknowledging wrongdoing
atonement · olive-branch · détente · restoration · reunion · pardon · resolution · rebuilding · renewal · truce
negotiation
Discussion seeking mutual accord
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- treatyBinding pact between nations
statecraft · envoy · ambassador · back-channel · protocol · communiqué · détente · geopolitics · bilateral · consulate
compromise
Agreement through mutual sacrifice
- concessionYielding a point
- agreementShared position between parties
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
mediation · bargaining · give-and-take · middle-ground · trade-off · deal · adjustment · balancing · arbitration · terms
trust
Confidence in another
- communicationExchanging ideas or information
- apologyStatement acknowledging wrongdoing
- empathySharing another's emotions
listening · patience · sincerity · understanding · rebuilding · commitment · respect · closeness · reconnecting · acknowledgment
posts
Published online content
lumber · nails · hammer · staples · chain-link · tools · fixing · maintenance · stretching · patching
- peacemakingnegotiation, mediation, peace agreement, mediate, pacifying
- reconciliationreconciliation, reconcile, reconciled, reconciling, making up
- negotiationbargaining, bargain, negotiate, mediation, compromise
- conflict responsesavoidance, confrontation, compromise, accommodation, aggression
- peaceful traitspeaceful, gentle, calm, soothing, peaceable
- bridgebuildingarch, beam, truss, span, viaduct
fence-mendingestrangement
Emotional separation between people
alienation · burning bridges · severing ties · cutting ties · rupturing
fence-mendingprovocation
Act that triggers response
antagonism · aggression · escalation · rabble-rousing · saber-rattling
fence-mendingscore-settling
Avenging past grievances
vindictiveness · bitterness · unforgiveness · vengefulness · retaliation
fence, defend, defense, offense, amends, mending, fenced, fencing, fences