“Weasel words” are a colloquial term for
words or phrases used to avoid being forthright
. Weasel words are used when the speaker wants to make it seem like they’ve given a clear answer to a question or made a direct statement, when actually they’ve said something inconclusive or vague.
What is an example of a weasel word?
Examples include the
phrases “some people say”, “most people think”
, and “researchers believe.” Using weasel words may allow one to later deny any specific meaning if the statement is challenged, because the statement was never specific in the first place.
How do you use weasel in a sentence?
Out come the weasel words:
God is not out there, he is in all of us
. A member of the weasel family that grew to the size of a cat. However, some weasel wording sucks out much of their meaning. There are various weasel ways they have of not categorizing these people.
How do you use weasel words in advertising?
Weasel words, or phrases, are used in marketing/advertising in
order to avoid making a direct statement or promise
. I.e. they are used as a way to say something that legally, or truthfully, cannot be said.
What are weasel words in writing?
A weasel word, or
anonymous authority
, is an informal term for words and phrases aimed at creating an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said, when in fact only a vague or ambiguous claim has been communicated.
What does weasel mean in slang?
A weasel is
a sneaky and sly person
. Your weasel of a friend has a habit of “forgetting” his wallet every time he goes out to dinner with you. You can call someone who cheats and lies a weasel, or you can use the word literally, to refer to the small furry mammal called a weasel.
What is the sentence of fluff?
Noun Her sweater was covered with fluff. The movie was pure fluff
. Her latest article has the usual fluff about movie stars and gossip. Verb The wind fluffed his hair.
Is fast a weasel word?
Adjectives are a mixed bag — some, like “female”, “upper-middle class,” and “mobile” have a degree of precision and meaning, while others, like “fast” or “cheap” are
weasel words that have no definition
.
How do you stop weasel words?
Use of
the passive voice to avoid
specifying an authority (for example, “it is said”) Adverbs that weaken (for example, “often”, “probably”)
What is an example of puffery?
Puffery is a statement or claim that is promotional in nature. It’s usually subjective and not to be taken seriously. Examples of these include
claiming that one’s product is the “best in the world”
, or something completely unbelievable like a product claiming to make you feel like you’re in space.
What does weasel words mean in English?
:
a word used in order to evade or retreat from a direct or forthright statement or position
.
Did you know
? Example Sentences Learn More About weasel word.
What is another name for a weasel?
| Scientific name Common name | Mustela nivalis Linnaeus, 1766 Least weasel | Mustela nudipes Desmarest, 1822 Malayan weasel | Mustela putorius Linnaeus, 1758 European polecat | Mustela richardsonii Bonaparte, 1838 American ermine |
|---|
Is weasel an offensive term?
In general, if you call someone a weasel they would probably not be happy – but
it is not really an offensive word in itself
. You are just saying they are dishonest.
Why is being called a weasel a bad thing?
In addition to being opportunists,
weasels often wrangle more food than they can eat in a single sitting
, likely because of their high metabolisms. This behavior led the carnivores to be labeled as especially vicious and bloodthirsty murderers.
What do you call a female weasel?
This seems to come from the Lithuanian word šarmu. In Ireland (where the least weasel does not occur), the stoat is referred to as a weasel, while in North America it is called a short-tailed weasel. A male stoat is called a dog, hob, or jack, while a female is called
a jill
.
Can weasels be pets?
Weasels, ferrets, and the other Mustelidae
