← Back to Fala2Me

roundabout answer

[/ˈraʊndəbaʊt ˈænsər/]
nounpl: roundabout answers
resposta indireta
1. An answer that takes a long, indirect route to get to the point; a response that avoids being direct or concise, often including unnecessary details or tangential information
When asked about his whereabouts, he gave a roundabout answer that left everyone confused.
Quando perguntaram sobre seu paradeiro, ele deu uma resposta indireta que deixou todos confusos.
2. A reply that circles around the main topic before finally addressing the actual question
The politician's roundabout answer avoided the controversial issue entirely.
A resposta indireta do político evitou completamente a questão controversa.
NYC Slang
beating around the bush
Synonyms
indirect answerevasive answercircuitous responselong-winded answerconvoluted answer
Antonyms
direct answerstraightforward answerconcise answerblunt answer

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
resposta indireta
most common usage
General Brazilian
resposta confusa
emphasizing confusion aspect
Portugal
resposta enviesada
common alternative in European Portuguese
Portugal
resposta complicada
emphasizing complexity

Related Idioms & Phrases

beat around the bush
go around in circles
talk in circles
dodge the question
not give a straight answer
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →