Even Greener Pastures
Language Learning => Questions about the Use of Language => Topic started by: Nikola on September 08, 2019, 09:22:57 pm
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I remember the female red hen with the name of Uncle Sam. And now, a cute chimpanzee as an artist? Can chimpanzees live in the forest in North America? They usually live in Indonesia and Africa, don't they?. It's hard to find male hens or artist-chimpanzees.
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That's just weasel words.
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Yes I think Neal confirmed that the phrase a „weasel word“ is not an American expression.
Well, if Neal confirmed it, then it's official. And now a lawyer confirmed what Neal had said so it must be, like, 100% true. I always suspected Jerry wasn't a real American. Something about him just doesn't add up.
I'm more American than Uncle Sam himself. 8)
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Yes I think Neal confirmed that the phrase a „weasel word“ is not an American expression.
Well, if Neal confirmed it, then it's official. And now a lawyer confirmed what Neal had said so it must be, like, 100% true. I always suspected Jerry wasn't a real American. Something about him just doesn't add up.
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Never "weasel words", but I have heard and used the word weasel more than just to describe the animal. Someone who loses a bet or had made a promise that they no longer want to fulfill we say they are trying to "weasel out" of their commitment or promise. It is really a rather descriptive phrase.
Think of grabbing a weasel and how they would twist and turn and writhe to get free. That is the mental or verbal gymnastics of someone weaseling out. Be careful using the phrase, you can use it good naturedly among friends but strangers might take it as an insult, just under calling them a liar.
Yes I think Neal confirmed that the phrase a „weasel word“ is not an American expression. To call someone a weasel is quite derogatory, like calling someone a rat, and as a verb, to try and weasel out of a situation also carries very negative connotation.
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Never "weasel words", but I have heard and used the word weasel more than just to describe the animal. Someone who loses a bet or had made a promise that they no longer want to fulfill we say they are trying to "weasel out" of their commitment or promise. It is really a rather descriptive phrase.
Think of grabbing a weasel and how they would twist and turn and writhe to get free. That is the mental or verbal gymnastics of someone weaseling out. Be careful using the phrase, you can use it good naturedly among friends but strangers might take it as an insult, just under calling them a liar.
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A ¨weasel word¨is a new concept for me. I don´t recall ever hearing it before.
I've heard and used the term 'weasel word or words' for ages. I can't remember the first time I heard it but it's been decades, I'm sure.
Interesting. Not sure what to make of this. Do both of your states have weasels? :)
I have to agree with Susan. I have never heard that expression „ a weasel word“ in my life.
If Jerry has heard it before, I have to suspect there is a regional aspect to it. Neal could give you the New York perspective.
I can guarantee you if you used the phrase „weasel word“ in California, no one is going to have the slightest idea what you are talking about.
I‘ll have to ask my mom about it. She’s 91 and has lived in California her whole life, with a few exceptions of living in a few other parts of the country when she was younger and we were all much younger.
She might surprise me and say she knows what it is. She`s surprised me before with some words, like „truck patch“, a word no one uses anymore.
If that is the case, then I would put the phrase in the „aged“ category (what we call in German, „veraltend.“ Not totally dead, but rarely used“. Not quite archaic yet, but moving in that direction.
If she’s never heard it, then it has to have only some regional use.
It’s a good expression, from reading the Wikipedia article.
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The Wikipedia says,
Definitions of the word 'weasel' that imply deception and irresponsibility include: the noun form, referring to a sneaky, untrustworthy, or insincere person; the verb form, meaning to manipulate shiftily;[6] and the phrase "to weasel out", meaning "to squeeze one's way out of something" or "to evade responsibility".[7]
If it is true, it' funny. Because this role is often by fox in Japanese. Foxes often deceive human in the old Japanese tales. They are smart enough to make fun of human. And weasels are probably described just like as little brothers of foxes and they also deceive human but they are not so nasty in Japanese stories.
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A ¨weasel word¨is a new concept for me. I don´t recall ever hearing it before.
I've heard and used the term 'weasel word or words' for ages. I can't remember the first time I heard it but it's been decades, I'm sure.
Interesting. Not sure what to make of this. Do both of your states have weasels? :)
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I've heard and used the term 'weasel word or words' for ages. I can't remember the first time I heard it but it's been decades, I'm sure.
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A ¨weasel word¨is a new concept for me. I don´t recall ever hearing it before.
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While reading a Wikipedia article, I stumbled upon the term "weasel words". I thought it was a really cool term because I like weasels. I am a bit disappointed that they're seen as animals that don't have anything meaningful to say.
Here are some definitions:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel_word
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/weasel-words
I'd like to ask native speakers if they see it as an established term or rather something new. I consulted the Ngram and the line starts around 1900 with a peak around 1940, followed by a steep decline and a slight increase in use in recent years.