pussyfoot

American  

[poos-ee-foot] / ˈpʊs iˌfʊt /

verb (used without object)

1. to go or move in a stealthy or cautious manner.

2. to act cautiously or timidly, as if afraid to commit oneself on a point at issue.

   Synonyms:

   straddle, sidestep, dodge, hedge

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noun

plural

pussyfoots

1. a person with a catlike, or soft and stealthy, tread.

2. Chiefly British. a teetotaler or prohibitionist.

pussyfoot British  

/ ˈpʊsɪˌfʊt /

verb

1. to move about stealthily or warily like a cat

2. to avoid committing oneself

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noun

1. a person who pussyfoots

Etymology

Origin of pussyfoot

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; pussy ¹ + foot

Example Sentences

And I said, ‘Why am I pussyfooting around?’

From Literature

He took me aside and said sternly, “You can’t pussyfoot it.”

From Salon

Perhaps – nah, let's stop pussyfooting and call it like it is.

From Salon

“The government is pussyfooting around the ESM, which is a very, very small piece in a much larger problem that has to do with overall European economic governance,” he said.

From Reuters

The problem with such pussyfooting is that its very carefulness means that it won't drive the public conversation.

From Salon