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being evasive

[ˈbiːɪŋ ɪˈveɪsɪv]
verb (gerund/present participle)
ser evasivo
1. The act of avoiding giving a direct or honest answer; deliberately unclear or vague in response
He was being evasive about his whereabouts last night.
Ele estava sendo evasivo sobre seu paradeiro na noite passada.
2. Deliberately avoiding commitment or engagement with a topic or question
She's being evasive when asked about her future plans.
Ela está sendo evasiva quando perguntam sobre seus planos futuros.
NYC Slang
dodging the question, beating around the bush, running game
Synonyms
being elusorybeing equivocalbeing noncommittaldodgingsidesteppingevadingbeing coycircumventing
Antonyms
being forthrightbeing directbeing candidbeing straightforwardbeing honestbeing transparent

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ser evasivo/a
Common usage; often used with estar (temporary state)
Rio de Janeiro
ser evasivo/a
Standard usage; may also use 'enrolar' colloquially
São Paulo
ser evasivo/a
Standard usage; professional and formal contexts
Portugal
ser evasivo/a
Standard usage; equivalent to Brazilian Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

beat around the bush
give someone the runaround
talk in circles
dance around the issue
not give a straight answer
play coy
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