equivocate
/ɪˈkwɪvəkeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈkwɪvəkeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈkwi-və-ˌkāt/ (ame, mw)
equivocate — 動詞
- equivocatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- equivocateshe / she / it
- equivocatedpast simple
- equivocating-ing form
1. to deliberately say things that are difficult to understand or have more than on
含糊其詞
故意說得模稜兩可，以隱瞞真相
to deliberately say things that are difficult to understand or have more than one possible meaning, so that people cannot be sure what you really believe or plan to do.
When the reporter asked about the missing money, the minister equivocated instead of giving a clear answer.
記者問起那筆不見的錢時，部長含糊其詞，沒有給出清楚的答案。
equivocate + instead of + noun phrase
Mei always equivocates when her friends ask if she liked the meal, saying the food was 'interesting.'
Mei 在朋友問她喜不喜歡那頓飯時總是含糊其詞，只說食物「很有趣」。
equivocate + quoting evasive speech
The director equivocated about the budget cuts for nearly an hour without a clear answer.
總監含糊其詞地談論預算削減將近一小時，始終沒有給出明確的答案。
Raj equivocated by using long, complicated sentences that nobody could follow.
Raj 用很長又複雜的句子含糊其詞，沒有人聽得懂他在說什麼。
When asked whether he supported the new law, the senator equivocated and changed the subject.
被問到是否支持新法時，這位參議員含糊其詞，並轉移了話題。
- prevaricate
more formal and less common; has a stronger implication of lying through evasive speech
- hedge
less severe — implies cautious avoidance of a firm position rather than intentional deception
- waffle
informal; means to talk at length without saying anything clear, but not necessarily with intent to deceive
- beat around the bush
informal idiom; avoiding the main topic rather than being deliberately ambiguous about it
- be straightforward
to express opinions and facts clearly and directly
- come clean
informal idiom; to finally tell the truth after hiding it
文法句型
equivocate + on/about + topic
equivocate + by + -ing form
用法筆記
Intransitive only — you never equivocate something. The topic is introduced with on, about, or over. Subjects are typically public figures (officials, politicians, executives) but can be anyone under pressure to give a direct reply.