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indirect answer

[/ˌɪndɪˈrɛkt ˈænsər/]
nounpl: indirect answers
resposta indireta
1. A response to a question that does not directly address the question asked, often implying or suggesting an answer rather than stating it explicitly
When asked about his involvement, he gave an indirect answer by talking about the company's policies instead.
Quando perguntado sobre seu envolvimento, ele deu uma resposta indireta ao falar sobre as políticas da empresa em vez disso.
2. A reply that requires inference or interpretation to understand the actual answer
Her indirect answer about the meeting suggested that it had gone poorly without saying so directly.
Sua resposta indireta sobre a reunião sugeriu que havia corrido mal sem dizer isso diretamente.
NYC Slang
beating around the bush
Synonyms
oblique answerevasive responseroundabout replyimplied answerveiled response
Antonyms
direct answerstraightforward responseexplicit replyclear answer

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
resposta indireta
Standard usage across Brazil
São Paulo
resposta indireta
Common in business and formal contexts
Portugal
resposta indireta
Standard European Portuguese usage

Related Idioms & Phrases

read between the lines
beat around the bush
talk in circles
dodge the question
speak in riddles
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