Pussyfoot

/ˈpʌsiˌfʊt/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A person who avoids confronting an issue or taking a stand; someone who is overly cautious.

She called him a pussyfoot for not standing up for his beliefs.

verb

To proceed cautiously or to avoid taking definitive action, often out of fear of consequences.

He decided to pussyfoot around the issue instead of addressing it directly.

To act in a sneaky or duplicitous manner.

The politician continued to pussyfoot around the real problems facing the community.

The term likely originated in the early 20th century, combining 'pussy' as in 'cat' with 'foot', suggesting a delicate or stealthy approach.

pussyfoot around

to avoid addressing a topic directly; to be evasive.

sneak

to move quietly and secretly to avoid detection.

tiptoe

to walk quietly and carefully on the tips of one's toes.

cautious

careful to avoid potential problems or dangers.

to avoid making a decision

Stop pussyfooting and tell me what you really think!

to be indecisive

He's just pussyfooting around the issue instead of taking action.