| 释义 |
mealy-mouthed
meal·y-mouthed (mē′lē-mouthd′, -moutht′)adj. Unwilling to state facts or opinions simply and directly.
[Akin to the German expression Mehl im Maule behalten, to be indirect in speech (literally, to have meal in the mouth).]mealy-mouthed adj hesitant or afraid to speak plainly; not outspoken [C16: from mealy (in the sense: soft, soft-spoken)] ˌmealy-ˈmouthedness nmeal′y-mouthed` or meal′y•mouthed`,
adj. avoiding the use of plain or honest language; deceitful. [1565–75] Thesaurus| Adj. | 1. |  mealy-mouthed - hesitant to state facts or opinions simply and directly as from e.g. timidity or hypocrisy; "a mealymouthed politician"mealymouthedindirect - extended senses; not direct in manner or language or behavior or action; "making indirect but legitimate inquiries"; "an indirect insult"; "doubtless they had some indirect purpose in mind"; "though his methods are indirect they are not dishonest"; "known as a shady indirect fellow" |
mealy-mouthedadjective hesitant, afraid, doubtful, indirect, mincing, reticent, prim, equivocal, euphemistic, overdelicate He did not intend to be mealy-mouthed with the country's leaders.Translationsmealy-mouthed
mealy-mouthedHesitant or unwilling to state something bluntly and directly when speaking, especially facts or opinions that are considered divisive or controversial. Everyone keeps having these mealy-mouthed conversations about crime in poor areas of the city, unwilling to talk about the scumbags who are to blame.mealy-mouthed
Synonyms for mealy-mouthedadj hesitantSynonyms- hesitant
- afraid
- doubtful
- indirect
- mincing
- reticent
- prim
- equivocal
- euphemistic
- overdelicate
Synonyms for mealy-mouthedadj hesitant to state facts or opinions simply and directly as from e.g. timidity or hypocrisySynonymsRelated Words |