pussyfoot
/'pusifut/
Definition
- 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.
Verb
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to go stealthily or furtively
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..stead of sneaking around spying on the neighbor's house
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