fence in

fence in — phrasal verb

  • fence inbase form
  • fences in3rd person singular
  • fencing in-ing form
  • fenced inpast simple

1. to build a fence or other barrier all the way around a piece of land or an area,

1.片語動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to build a fence or other barrier all the way around a piece of land or an area, marking its boundary or keeping things in or out.

例句

Tyler fenced in the vegetable patch to keep the rabbits out.

fence + noun + in, transitive active

The old farmhouse was fenced in by a low stone wall that had stood for centuries.

passive: be fenced in by [barrier]

同義詞
  • enclose

    more general; can use walls, hedges, or any barrier, not necessarily a fence

  • surround

    focuses on being all around, not on the barrier itself

  • pen in

    more specific to animals; suggests a smaller, tighter enclosure

反義詞
  • open up

    to remove barriers or make an area accessible

文法句型

fence + noun + in

be fenced in

用法筆記

Often used in the passive voice. The subject is typically a piece of land, a garden, a yard, or a structure that needs to be separated from its surroundings.

常見錯誤

❌They fenced around the garden.
✅They fenced in the garden.
💡'Fence in' means to surround completely with a barrier, not just to build a fence alongside one edge.
❌The field was fenced out by wooden posts.
✅The field was fenced in by wooden posts.
💡The particle 'in' indicates enclosure; 'out' indicates exclusion and changes the meaning.

2. to make someone feel trapped, limited, or unable to act freely, especially becau

2.片語動詞及物B2
釋義

to make someone feel trapped, limited, or unable to act freely, especially because of rules, expectations, or a cramped physical environment.

例句

After two years in a tiny studio apartment, Yara began to feel fenced in and restless.

feel fenced in (emotional state)

Takeshi felt fenced in by the strict rules at his boarding school.

be fenced in by [restrictions]

同義詞
  • confine

    more formal; can describe physical or psychological restriction

  • hem in

    very similar in meaning and register; suggests being surrounded with no escape

  • trap

    stronger emotional tone; suggests being caught with no way out

  • restrict

    broader; not limited to the feeling of being enclosed

反義詞
  • liberate

    to set free from restrictions

  • free up

    to create more freedom or space for someone

文法句型

feel fenced in

be fenced in by [rules/obligations]

用法筆記

Almost always used in the passive or with the verb 'feel' (feel fenced in). The force that restricts can be physical (a small space) or abstract (rules, traditions, expectations). Distinguish from sense 1, which refers to a literal fence or barrier around land.

常見錯誤

❌She felt fenced out by the new rules.
✅She felt fenced in by the new rules.
💡'Fence in' means to restrict or confine; 'fence out' would mean to exclude, which is a different concept.
❌The manager fenced in the project budget.
✅The manager felt fenced in by the project budget.
💡The figurative sense almost always involves a person feeling trapped, not an object being restricted.