broken-down fence
noun phraseUK /ˌbrəʊkən ˈdaʊn fens/
US /ˌbroʊkən ˈdaʊn fɛns/
A fence that is old and falling apart.
The sheep got out through a broken-down fence.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A fence that has been knocked over or damaged by force.
After the storm, a broken-down fence lay across the driveway.
3. A boundary that no longer keeps animals or people in or out.
The broken-down fence let the neighbor's dog wander into our yard.
4. A neglected barrier that needs repair or replacement.
We spent the weekend fixing the broken-down fence around the garden.