fence-mending

Definitions

1. Social assistance given to a community in order to retain popularity with the electorate.
   uncountable
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see fence, mend.
   uncountable

Examples

“In summary, the recognition of the mandate of a group by government is useful not only to the group's leaders but to government as well. The existence and operations of organized groups introduce⟳ an element of stability into the political process⟳; […] they enable government to carry⟳ on a continuous process⟳ of “fence mending” by continually drawing attention to the fences which require⟳ mending; […]”

“Patronage and political fence mending had come⟳ to bore him.”

CEFR level