English Idioms

Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms

Ring fencing

Meaning

The idiom "ring fencing" means to create a physical or psychological barrier around something or someone, to protect it from external threats or influences.

Usage

  • The government has been ring-fencing healthcare budgets, which means that they have been allocating funds specifically for healthcare and not using them for other purposes.
  • After the merger, the new company decided to ring fence the IT department and give it more autonomy.
  • The CEO's decision to ring-fence the marketing budget has led to a decline in sales.
  • The protesters formed a human chain around the government building, effectively ring-fencing it and preventing any further protests from happening.
  • She felt that her work was being ring-fenced by her colleagues who were not willing to collaborate with her.

Roots and History

The idiom "ring fencing" originated in the 19th century when farmers used wooden fences to enclose their livestock. The fence would be built in a ring shape around the field, preventing any predators from entering and the animals from escaping. Over time, the term has been applied metaphorically to describe various situations where a physical or psychological barrier is created to protect something or someone.

Synonyms in English

  • Containment
  • Barrier
  • Boundary
  • Enclosure
  • Isolation

Synonyms in other languages

  • Contenimento (Portuguese) - This idiom is similar to "containment" and means to keep something or someone inside a physical or metaphorical barrier.
  • Stolp (German) - This idiom means to create a barrier or obstacle to prevent access to something or someone.
  • Muraleau (French) - This idiom means to build a wall or a barrier around something or someone.
  • Kontrola (Polish) - This idiom means to control or monitor access to something or someone, often by creating a barrier.
  • Trapézio (Spanish) - This idiom is similar to "ring fencing" and means to create a physical or metaphorical trap or obstacle to prevent access to something or someone.

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