👕 A soft fabric 👖 Formal trousers 🧼 A washcloth 🗣️ To avoid answering 🍼 To wrap warmly

to flannel

9.6

To speak in a vague or praising way to avoid answering

verb
/ˈflænəl/

: irse por las ramas

When pressed for details, he simply flannelled and changed the subject.

Examples

She flannelled her way through the meeting, avoiding any firm commitments.
Don't flannel me; just tell me the truth!
The politician flannelled when asked about the controversial policy, never giving a clear response.
He always flannels when asked about his mistakes.
The politician flannelled when asked about the controversial policy, never giving a clear response.
She flannelled her way through the meeting, avoiding any firm commitments.
When pressed for details, he simply flannelled and changed the subject.

Synonyms

to fudge

vsto flannel

5 7.7

To avoid giving a clear answer or decision

does the same but adds flattering or insincere language to avoid direct replies

to prevaricate

vsto flannel

Formal

3 9.1

To avoid giving a direct answer to hide the truth

chooses flattering vagueness to evade questions rather than openly conceal facts

to waffle on

vsto flannel

Informal

3 9.0

To keep changing your mind and not give a clear answer

is more about insincere flattering language to dodge questions rather than indecision

to hand-wave

vsto flannel

Informal

1 8.3

To give a quick, unclear answer instead of real facts

uses flattering vagueness in speech rather than gestures to avoid direct answers

to palter

vsto flannel

9.9

To speak or act to hide the truth and avoid a clear answer

uses vague flattering words to dodge answers rather than to mislead directly

to tergiversate

vsto flannel

Formal

9.9

To avoid a direct answer by being unclear on purpose

relies on vague flattering talk to avoid direct answers instead of subtle hiding

to fudge the issue

vsto flannel

Informal

8.4

To avoid answering a question directly by being unclear

uses vague flattering wording specifically to escape giving a clear answer

Antonyms

to speak clearly

7 1.0

Say words so other people can easily understand you

Compounds

cotton flannel

1 2.9

A warm cotton cloth with a soft side used for clothes and sheets

Canton flannel

Archaic

8.3

A heavy cotton cloth brushed on one side to make it soft for sheets and pajamas

flannel-cake

Archaic

7.7

A thin flat cake cooked on a hot pan like a pancake

flannel bush

9.9

An evergreen shrub with soft hairy leaves and bright yellow flowers

flannel cake

5.5

A thin pancake fried on both sides and often served for breakfast

flannel leaf

9.5

A plant with large soft woolly leaves and tall spikes of yellow flowers

flannel mullein

Specialized

9.9

A tall plant with soft, hairy leaves and yellow flowers

How Evasive

to prevaricate

Formal

3 9.1

to equivocate

7 9.9

to flannel

9.6

to beat around the bush

Informal

17 5.6

to hint

136 2.0

Surface Forms

flannel infinitive

flanneled past

flanneled past participle

flanneling present participle

flannels third person singular

Etymology

Flannel meaning 'to speak evasively' likely comes from the idea of covering something with a soft cloth, so a helpful way to remember it is to think of soft, unclear words wrapping the truth. So to flannel is to avoid a direct answer with vague or flattering talk.