fence down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fence down" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe the action of lowering or dismantling a fence, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "After the storm, we had to fence down the damaged sections of our yard."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

They knocked fence down anyway.

The New Yorker

"That's why they put that fence down there.

The New Yorker

But he had a fence down, the contest went to a jump-off and the rest is hysteria.

The Guardian - Sport

The first thing he saw then was a bunch of guys pushing part of the security fence down and a huge crowd streaming through.

The Guardian - Music

"This neighbour," she exclaims indignantly, "is extending his poxy little ground-floor flat by about three inches or something, and he wants to take my fence down!

The Guardian - Books

Spare a thought, too, for the Dutch, who had victory in the team showjumping in their grasp before Gerco Schröder had a fence down, and who felt robbed of gold in the individual dressage.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

One police officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that some crossed over a portion of the fence downed by the recent attack on the Israeli jeep and stood on the Israeli side.

The New York Times

Afterward, she told The Village Voice, "I work to take fences down," adding, "That's mostly what I do".

The New York Times

They each had the first and third fences down, leaving them with eight faults for the round.

The Guardian - Sport

In the jump-off, after the Dutch riders Maikel van der Vleuten and Marc Houtzager knocked fences down, the full crowd exploded in applause for Britain's victory.

The New York Times - Sports

Mary King and Tina Cook had been vying for medals, but both had two fences down and had to be satisfied with fifth and sixth respectively.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "fence down" is commonly used, particularly in sports contexts like showjumping, it's advisable to use clearer alternatives such as "take down the fence" or "knock down the fence" for formal writing to avoid ambiguity. Always consider your audience and the context of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "fence down" in academic papers or professional reports. Opt for more grammatically accepted alternatives like "remove the fence" or "dismantle the fence" to ensure clarity and maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fence down" is as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the action of a fence being lowered or dismantled. Ludwig AI notes it's often used in sports contexts. The common usage of the phrase makes it functional despite grammatical disputes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

36%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "fence down" is frequently used, it is often considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI's analysis points out that it is primarily used in contexts such as News & Media and Wiki, and functions as a verb phrase describing the action of a fence being lowered or dismantled. For formal writing, it is best to opt for clearer and more grammatically accepted alternatives such as "take down the fence" or "remove the fence".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take down the fence

This alternative uses a common phrasal verb to indicate the action of dismantling a fence.

bring the fence down

This alternative is a more descriptive way of saying the fence has been caused to fall.

remove the fence

This phrase replaces "down" with "remove", offering a more formal way to describe the act of taking a fence away.

dismantle the fence

This suggests a more deliberate and complete removal of the fence.

knock down the fence

Similar to "fence down" but implies force or impact in bringing the fence down.

pull down the fence

This phrase suggests pulling as the method of bringing the fence down.

tear down the fence

Suggests a more forceful and destructive action of removing the fence.

demolish the fence

Indicates a complete destruction of the fence, often implying professional demolition.

flatten the fence

This suggests making the fence level with the ground, typically by force.

lower the fence

Focuses on reducing the height of the fence, rather than completely removing it.

FAQs

What does "fence down" mean?

The phrase "fence down" generally refers to the action of lowering or dismantling a fence. In the context of equestrian sports, it indicates that a horse has knocked over a fence during a jump.

Is "fence down" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "fence down" is often considered grammatically incorrect. More precise alternatives like "take down the fence" or "remove the fence" are preferred in formal writing.

How can I use "take down the fence" in a sentence?

You can use "take down the fence" in a sentence like: "The construction crew will take down the fence tomorrow to begin the new project."

What's the difference between "fence down" and "knock down the fence"?

"Fence down" is a general term for a fence being lowered or dismantled, while "knock down the fence" specifically implies that the fence was brought down with force or impact.