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being noncommittal

[ˈbiːɪŋ nɒnkəˈmɪtəl]
verb phrase / gerund
ser não-comprometedor / não se comprometer
1. Avoiding making a definite commitment or taking a clear stand on an issue; remaining ambiguous or evasive
He was being noncommittal about his plans for next year.
Ele estava sendo não-comprometedor sobre seus planos para o próximo ano.
2. Refusing to express a clear opinion or make a firm decision
The politician was being noncommittal when asked about the controversial policy.
O político estava sendo ambíguo quando perguntado sobre a política controversa.
NYC Slang
playing it cool / keeping your cards close to your chest
Synonyms
being evasivebeing ambiguousbeing vaguedodging the questionfence-sitting
Antonyms
being committalbeing decisivebeing cleartaking a stancebeing forthright

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ser não-comprometedor / não se comprometer
Most common usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
ficar em cima do muro / ser vago
Colloquial expression meaning 'sitting on the fence'
São Paulo
não se posicionar / ser ambíguo
Formal and informal usage
Portugal
ser pouco comprometedor / manter-se vago
Slightly more formal register

Related Idioms & Phrases

sitting on the fence
playing it safe
keeping one's cards close to one's chest
beating around the bush
ficar em cima do muro (Portuguese)
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