Weasel words
Definitions
deceive or mislead
To describe words or language that is intentionally vague or ambiguous in order to avoid giving a clear answer or commitmentmanipulate
To describe language that is used to manipulate or influence others in a sly or underhanded manner
Examples of Weasel words
"Our company strives to achieve maximum profits for our shareholders, subject to certain constraints and considerations."
This sentence uses the idiom "weasel words" to convey the idea that the company may not always prioritize profits over other factors. The use of "strives" rather than "guarantees" and "subject to" language softens the commitment to profits and allows for possible exceptions.
"We offer a range of products that may meet your needs, contingent upon a variety of circumstances."
Here, the idiom is used to suggest that the products may not necessarily satisfy all customers' requirements, and the company is not making a definitive statement about the products' capabilities.
"The project may encounter some challenges, which we will address as they arise."
This example employs weasel words to express the possibility of obstacles in the project, but the company is not explicitly predicting their occurrence. The use of "may" and "which we will address" adds ambiguity and allows for the possibility of avoiding any explicit commitment to mitigating the challenges.
"We will do our best to fulfill your request, unless unforeseen circumstances arise that render it impractical."
This example uses weasel words to acknowledge an effort to meet the request but indicates that circumstances outside the company's control could undermine the company's ability to fulfill it. The use of "our best" instead of a definite statement creates room for ambiguity about the company's commitment to the request's fulfillment.
The sales agent promised that "our products might possibly be available for purchase in the near future."
This statement uses weasel words to create uncertainty and avoid making a definite statement. By using "might possibly" and "near future," the sales agent leaves open the possibility that the products may not actually be available for purchase at all, or may not be available for a much longer period of time than what is considered "near future."
The politician stated that "I believe that we should consider the possibility of taking some action on this issue."
This statement uses weasel words to avoid taking a firm stance. By using "I believe" and "should consider," the politician is not committing to actually taking any action, leaving the decision open for interpretation and further debate.
The manager explained that "there may be some issues with the project, but we are doing everything we can to address them."
This statement uses weasel words to avoid taking responsibility for the issues at hand. By using "may be" and "we are doing everything we can," the manager is admitting that there are problems, but is also implying that they are working to fix them, without actually guaranteeing a solution.
The CEO said that "we are continuing to evaluate the situation and will provide an update when we have more information."
This statement uses weasel words to avoid providing concrete information. By using "continuing to evaluate" and "will provide an update," the CEO is indicating that they do not have all the necessary information to make a definitive statement, and are waiting for more details before making a decision or announcement.
Conclusion
The idiom "weasel words" is used to describe language that is intentionally vague, ambiguous, or misleading. It is often used to caution against trusting or believing someone who is using deceptive language, or to call out someone for using manipulative language.Origin of "Weasel words"
The origin of the idiom "weasel words" can be traced back to the early 20th century. The term "weasel" has long been associated with sly or deceitful behavior, and in this idiom, it is used to describe language that is similarly deceptive. The term may have originated from the behavior of weasels, which are known for their cunning and slippery nature. Over time, "weasel words" has come to be used to criticize language that is intentionally misleading or manipulative. For example, politicians or advertisers may be accused of using "weasel words" to avoid making clear commitments or to manipulate the truth.