equivocate

IPA/ɪˈkwɪvəkeɪt/
KK[ɪkwˈɪvəkˌet]IPA/ɪˈkwɪvəkeɪt/

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

1.動詞不及物C1
釋義

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.

例句

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

常見搭配
  • equivocate on a question
  • equivocate about an issue
  • equivocate over a decision
  • equivocate by using vague language
同義詞
  • 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

反義詞

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.

常見錯誤

The manager equivocated the truth.
The manager equivocated about the truth.
equivocate is intransitive; it never takes a direct object.
She equivocated him by not answering.
She equivocated by not answering him.
equivocate cannot take an indirect object.

同根字

常見搭配

名詞搭配

  • politician equivocates
  • witness equivocates
  • official equivocates
  • equivocate an answer

副詞搭配

  • deliberately equivocate
  • carefully equivocate
  • typically equivocate

常用片語

  • equivocate on a question
  • equivocate about an issue
  • equivocate rather than answer

介系詞搭配

  • equivocate on
  • equivocate about
  • equivocate over