pussyfoot

/'pusifut/
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Thân thiện
pussyfoot

A cat pussyfoots across the wooden floor.

Definition
  1. Verb:
    • To move or act in a stealthy, cautious, or non-committal manner: The primary meaning is to avoid making a definite statement or taking direct action, often by being evasive or overly cautious. It implies a reluctance to be open or straightforward.
    • To walk or move quietly and carefully, as if trying not to be noticed: This sense describes a literal, stealthy way of moving, similar to tiptoeing.
Usage Examples
  • Verb (Acting cautiously/evasively):
    • The politician refused to pussyfoot around the issue and gave a direct answer.
    • Stop pussyfooting and tell me what you really think!
  • Verb (Moving stealthily):
    • I had to pussyfoot down the hall so I wouldn't wake the baby.
    • The cat pussyfooted through the tall grass, stalking its prey.
Advanced Usage
  • "to pussyfoot around (something)": This is the most common phrasal construction. It means to avoid dealing with a subject, problem, or decision directly, often by being vague or hesitant.
    • We need to address the budget deficit, not pussyfoot around it any longer.
    • He spent the whole meeting pussyfooting around the main point.
Variants and Related Words
  • Pussyfooter (noun): (rare, informal) A person who acts in a cautious, evasive, or non-committal way.
    • He was criticized for being a pussyfooter who never took a firm stand.
Synonyms
  • Hedge: To avoid giving a clear or direct answer.
  • Equivocate: To use ambiguous language to conceal the truth or avoid commitment.
  • Tiptoe: To walk quietly on the balls of one's feet (for the literal sense of moving stealthily).
  • Beat around the bush: To avoid talking about something directly.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Pussyfoot around: As detailed in the 'Advanced Usage' section, this is the standard and almost exclusive phrasal verb form for this word.
Related Idioms
  • To tread carefully/lightly: To act with great caution to avoid causing offense or making a mistake. This is a more common and formal idiom with a similar connotation to "pussyfooting around" an issue.
pussyfoot

A cat pussyfoots across the wooden floor.

Verb
  1. to go stealthily or furtively
    • ..stead of sneaking around spying on the neighbor's house

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