to have the watch repaired / mended

I have not heard of this distinction between "repair" and "mend". I generally use "repair" or "fix" interchangeably for most circumstances.

I personally use "mend" to describe a broken item that needs to be fixed by fusing the broken pieces together. For example, mending clothes. Mend is also used for more abstract items: to mend a broken heart... to mend relations between the two countries...

Cheers!

Certain kinds of things tend toward one word or the other. Clothing is usually said to be "mended" rather than "repaired". Also, as Molly says, abstract things like relationships and emotions tend toward "mending" rather than "repair". Going the other way, electronic devices (e.g., computers) and mechanical equipment (e.g., vehicles) are more often said to be "repaired" than "mended", at least around here (midwestern US). However, the basic meaning of the words is the same, and if you use the wrong one it might sound a little odd, but people will still know what you mean.

Many things can also be said to be "fixed", but be careful there: in some cases "fixed" can mean something completely different, e.g., immobilized, made permanent, tampered with. The words "repaired" and "mended" don't have so many alternate meanings.

Also note that with people and animals (and things that are part of them, such as flesh and wounds) we usually use the word "heal". If we say that an animal is fixed, we mean it's been rendered infertile via surgery (i.e., spayed or neutered, depending on gender). "Mend" does sometimes get used with parts of bodies, e.g., broken bones are said to mend after they are set. But even there you can also say "heal".

Thank you very much!!!

And could I ask you more?

Is the phrase "mend the clock / watch" itself natural?
In other words, do you normally use "mend" in combination with "clock" or "watch"?

> ... do you normally use "mend" in combination with "clock" or "watch"?

Not *usually*, but I guess you *could*. I don't know that it sounds totally weird or anything; it's just not what we say most often.

Ah, okay I see!
Thank you so much.