Fudge

/fʌdʒ/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A soft, rich confection made from sugar, butter, and milk or cream, often flavored and sometimes mixed with nuts.

She made a delicious batch of chocolate fudge for the school bake sale.

An act of falsifying information or avoiding the truth.

The report was filled with fudge, making it difficult to ascertain the real issues.

verb

To evade or avoid making a firm decision or statement often by using ambiguous or misleading language.

The politician tried to fudge his answer to avoid taking a strong stance on the issue.

To manipulate or alter data or facts in a way that misrepresents the truth.

The accountant was fired for fudging the financial reports to hide losses.

Etymology

The origin of the word 'fudge' is unclear, but it may come from the 19th century American English, possibly an alteration of the word 'fudging,' which means to make or do clumsily.

Common Phrases and Expressions

fudge the numbers

To manipulate figures or statistics to achieve a desired outcome.

fudge factor

A term used to describe a margin of error or a variable that is intentionally set to obscure the truth.

make fudge

To create or prepare fudge candy.

Related Words

fudgy

Having the consistency or quality of fudge.

fudged

Past tense of fudge, meaning something has been altered or manipulated.

Slang Meanings

To dodge a responsibility or question.

Stop fudging and just give me a straight answer.

To make something up or exaggerate.

He always fudges about how much he earns.