Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense pussyfoots, present participle pussyfooting, past tense, past participle pussyfooted
verb
If you say that someone is pussyfootingaround, you are criticizing them for behaving in a too cautious way because they are not sure what to do and are afraid to commit themselves.
[disapproval]
Why don't they stop pussyfooting around and say what they really mean?
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: hedge, sit on the fence, prevaricate, beat about the bush More Synonyms of pussyfoot
More Synonyms of pussyfoot
pussyfoot in British English
(ˈpʊsɪˌfʊt) informal
verb(intransitive)
1.
to move about stealthily or warily like a cat
2.
to avoid committing oneself
nounWord forms: plural-foots
3.
a person who pussyfoots
pussyfoot in American English
(ˈpʊsiˌfʊt)
US
verb intransitive Informal
1.
to move with stealth or caution, like a cat
2.
to shy away from a definite commitment or from taking a firm stand
Derived forms
pussyfooter (ˈpussyˌfooter)
noun
Examples of 'pussyfoot' in a sentence
pussyfoot
I can't believe the way I pussyfoot around people these days, she thought.
S.M. Stirling T2: INFILTRATOR (2001)
1 (verb)
Definition
to avoid committing oneself
Stop pussyfooting around and say what you really mean!
Synonyms
hedge
When asked about his involvement, he hedged.
sit on the fence
prevaricate
British ministers continued to prevaricate on the issue.
beat about the bush
flannel (British, informal)
He flannelled and prevaricated.
equivocate
He is equivocating a lot about what is going to happen at the next election.
be noncommittal
hum and haw
tergiversate
2 (verb)
Definition
to move about stealthily
Must you pussyfoot about the place?
Synonyms
creep
I went back to the hotel and crept up to my room.
steal
They can steal away at night and join us.
ghost
prowl
The stray dogs of the city prowl in packs in search of food.
tiptoe
slink
He couldn't just slink away.
tread warily
Additional synonyms
in the sense of equivocate
Definition
to use vague or ambiguous language in order to deceive someone or to avoid telling the truth
He is equivocating a lot about what is going to happen at the next election.
Synonyms
be evasive,
evade,
dodge,
parry,
fence,
hedge,
shuffle,
fudge,
flannel (British, informal),
sidestep,
waffle (informal, British),
quibble,
prevaricate,
pussyfoot (informal),
avoid the issue,
beat about the bush (informal),
tergiversate
in the sense of flannel
Definition
to flatter or talk evasively
He flannelled and prevaricated.
Synonyms
prevaricate,
hedge,
flatter,
waffle (informal, British),
blarney,
sweet-talk (informal),
soft-soap (informal),
equivocate,
butter up,
pull the wool over (someone's) eyes
in the sense of prevaricate
Definition
to avoid giving a direct or truthful answer
British ministers continued to prevaricate on the issue.
Synonyms
evade,
lie,
shift,
hedge,
shuffle,
dodge,
deceive,
flannel (British, informal),
quibble,
beg the question,
beat about the bush,
cavil,
equivocate,
stretch the truth,
palter,
give a false colour to,
tergiversate
Nearby words of
pussyfoot
pushover
pushy
pusillanimous
pussyfoot
pustule
put
put a lid on something
Synonyms of 'pussyfoot'
pussyfoot
Explore 'pussyfoot' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of prowl
Definition
to move stealthily around (a place) as if in search of prey or plunder
The stray dogs of the city prowl in packs in search of food.
Synonyms
move stealthily,
hunt,
patrol,
range,
steal,
cruise,
ghost,
stalk,
sneak,
lurk,
roam,
rove,
scavenge,
slink,
skulk,
nose around
in the sense of slink
Definition
to move or act in a quiet and secretive way from fear or guilt
He couldn't just slink away.
Synonyms
creep,
steal,
sneak,
slip,
ghost,
prowl,
skulk,
pussyfoot (informal)
in the sense of steal
Definition
to move quietly and carefully, not wanting to be noticed