| 释义 |
▪ I. ˈpussyfoot, n.
[f. pussy n. + foot n.]
1. One who moves stealthily or warily.
1914Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal Slang 68 Pussy foot... A detective. 1916Dialect Notes IV. 279 Pussy-foot, v.i. To be sly, intriguing, or underhand. ‘That girl goes pussy-footing around.’ Also n. ‘She's a regular pussy-foot.’ 1977‘E. Crispin’ Glimpses of Moon xii. 257 Grateful that the creature [sc. a cat] was in both senses a pussyfoot, Fen drank some champagne.
2. [f. the nickname ‘Pussyfoot’ of an American supporter of Prohibition, W. E. Johnson (1862–1945), given to him on account of his stealthy methods when a magistrate.] An advocate or supporter of prohibition; a teetotaller. Also allusively.
1919Punch 23 July 86 Gloomy Policeman. ‘You've had enough. Better go home.’ Reveller... ‘Shurr-up—Pussy⁓foot!’ 1920‘Sapper’ Bull-Dog Drummond vi. 146 We are all confirmed Pussy-foots, and have been consuming non⁓alcoholic beer. 1921T. Burke Outer Circle 169 The tea arrived, a viscid, leathery fluid of Pussyfoot vintage. 1922Ld. Riddell Some Things that Matter ii. 28 Mrs. A., a ‘pussyfoot’, with an ardent desire to interfere with other people's habits. 1946G. Millar Horned Pigeon x. 137 There was the heavy drinker... And there was the pussy⁓foot who said ‘poison’.
3. attrib. or as adj.
a. Teetotal; without alcohol; non-alcoholic.
b. Soft; easy.
1923D. H. Lawrence Birds, Beasts & Flowers 15 Even the word Marsala will smack of preciosity Soon in the pussy-foot West. 1940Dylan Thomas Portrait of Artist as Young Dog 217 He'd be knocking back nips without a thought that on the sands at home his friend was alone and pussyfoot at six o'clock. 1973D. Miller Chinese Jade Affair xvii. 156, I was trying to deflect the inevitable course of the evening with a ‘Pussy-foot’ cocktail. 1974Country Life 17 Oct. 1108 Covering 38 laps of the circuit..ensured this was no genteel pussyfoot operation.
So pussy-footed a., having a light step; elusive; evasive; pussy-ˈfootedness; ˈpussyfootism, teetotalism, advocacy or enforcement of prohibition.
1893Scribner's Mag. Nov. 653 Men who were beginning to walk pussy-footed and shy at shadows. 1919N.Y. Times 7 Jan. 4/6 The Republican Party..was evidently in imminent danger of taking a ‘pussy-footed’ position on the war. 1923Daily Mail 23 July 7 In Tudor England people sang the music they liked, and read the books they liked. They had real freedom, and there was no pussy⁓footism. 1924D. S. Barry Forty Years in Washington v. 106 Ingalls once said of Senator William B. Allison that he was so pussy-footed he could walk from New York to San Francisco on the keys of a piano and never strike a note. 1926‘A. Berkeley’ Wychford Poisoning Case vii. 78 They reached the Man of Kent and ordered the night⁓caps to which their position as residents entitled them, in defiance of the dictates of a maternal government, pussy⁓footism and all the other futilities which order our lives for us in these days. 1931Times Lit. Suppl. 10 Sept. 685/1 He was pussyfooted and quick to spring. 1957Times 10 May 13/4 This letter may sound cautious, perhaps pussy-footed, almost priggish... We must tread softly. 1964Daily Tel. 9 Mar. 14/2 There is nothing pussy-footed about this economic strategy... It is a bold mixture of more competition and more responsibility. 1966Economist 30 Apr. 450/1 Politically here is confirmation..of the essential caution, not to say pussy⁓footedness, of the Wilson Government. 1980Jrnl. R. Soc. Arts Mar. 181/2 Aesthetics is a pussy-footed way of referring to beauty.
▪ II. ˈpussyfoot, v.
[f. as prec.]
1. intr. To tread softly or lightly to avoid being noticed; to proceed warily; to conceal one's opinions or plans; to behave evasively or timidly. Also with it.
1903Atlanta Constitution 20 Mar. 3 Vice President Charles Warren Fairbanks is pussy-footing it around Washington. 1916[see pussyfoot n. 1]. 1918C. Sandburg Cornhuskers 73 Who pussyfoots from desk to desk with a speaking forefinger? 1928Observer 5 Feb. 18/1 While most papers are still ‘pussy-footing’ on the Presidency they called their editors together and afterwards announced a unanimous decision. 1931E. Thompson Farewell to India 203 Trying to coax a horse to wait while I pussy-footed up to him. 1934D. L. Sayers Nine Tailors iii. ii. 286 When I got out through the porch, I had to pussyfoot pretty gently over that beastly creaking gravel. 1949Time 9 May 25/2 The ones who pussy⁓footed, side-stepped, straddled, carried water on both shoulders and compromised were left at home. 1951E. Paul Springtime in Paris viii. 155, I saw you pussyfooting around the exhibition. 1973Times 16 Oct. 6/6 A Labour Government should not ‘pussyfoot around’ with reform of the Official Secrets Act but scrap it. 1975B. Wood Killing Gift (1976) iv. i. 129 Why do you pussy⁓foot, captain?.. Why not just say it—you think Jennifer Gilbert killed him. 1977Jrnl. R. Soc. Arts CXXV. 626/1 We have ‘pussy-footed’ round this issue of profit for years. 1980Brit. Med. Jrnl. 29 Mar. 937/1 It is time someone was honest enough to stop pussyfooting about.
2. [f. pussyfoot n. 2.] trans. To render teetotal; to impose prohibition on. rare.
1921[implied in pussyfooting vbl. n.].
So ˈpussyfooting vbl. n. and ppl. a.
1921Q. Rev. Jan. 100 The tyranny that would ensue from the Pussy-footing of Canada is too horrible to contemplate. 1928Collier's 29 Dec. 38/1 The wrappings which..the pussy-footing politicians impose upon a candidate. 1956G. P. Kurath in A. Dundes Mother Wit (1973) 107/2 Certain qualities seem to predominate... These are whole-bodied movements,..dynamics from pussy footing to violent acrobatics, rhythmic complexity. 1974J. Cleary Peter's Pence vi. 187 Authority had been given to the pussyfooting amateur..and nothing had gone right. 1976Times 16 Feb. 8/7 In the face of political dogma, ‘pussy-footing’ and ill-informed decision making, is Mr Laker downhearted? 1977Time 8 Aug. 1/1 To hell with what timid, pussy-footing diplomats think! |