mends fences
Restores damaged bonds
To mend fences is to repair a damaged relationship or restore goodwill after a disagreement.
The image is of neighboring farmers fixing the barrier between their properties—a cooperative act that maintains peace.
After the argument, she spent weeks mending fences with her brother.
The politician flew home to mend fences with local leaders.
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- make peaceResolve conflict between parties
- clear the airDispel tension through discussion
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
mediation · harmony · rapprochement · understanding · bridge-building · olive branch · conflict resolution · maintenance · fixing · restoration · peacemaking · making amends · forgiveness · kiss and make up · repairing · patching · bury the hatchet · let bygones be bygones
mends fencesbears a grudge
alienates · antagonizes · poisons the well · fans the flames · rubs salt in the wound
mend, mends, mended, mending, mendable, fence, fences, fenced, fencing