🍬 A sweet candy 🤥 To cheat or lie 🤔 To avoid directly

to fudge

5 7.7

To avoid giving a clear answer or decision

verb
/fʌdʒ/

: eludir

Will it deliver, or will it fudge the issue of who pays for what and how?
fudge the issue
fudge the truth
try to fudge

You can find this sort of fudging in Batman.

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Examples

Usually the salesperson has very little leeway to negotiate for hardware, but they can fudge the price of the software without getting approval from higher-ups.

Blog text (25)
So these we can kind of fudge that rule a little bit.

Garden Answer
And not to fudge about anything.
So we always have to fudge a little bit as far as seeing how these things go together.
Most likely, he'll fudge things so he can get away with doing the minimum.

Blog text (23)
But all our ideas had to make choices; had to fudge things a bit.

Blog text (9)
Which other countries will also be allowed to fudge?

Academic text (1996)
Don't guess or try to fudge your way through.

Fiction book (1992)
But on the subject of honesty and integrity, I will tell you that I wouldn't so much as fudge an expense report and never have.

Blog text (19)
When questioned about the budget, she decided to fudge the numbers slightly to avoid conflict.

Synonyms

to duck

vsto fudge

Informal

64 6.8

To avoid doing something you are supposed to do

relies more on deliberate vagueness rather than clever avoidance

to evade

vsto fudge

31 3.9

To avoid doing something you should do, for example a duty or a direct question

adds a strong sense of deliberate vagueness rather than only avoidance

to dodge

vsto fudge

25 5.3

To avoid answering a question or facing responsibility by giving unclear answers

focuses more on unclear wording and deliberate vagueness

to skirt

vsto fudge

19 6.8

To avoid dealing with a question or problem

leans more on vague, evasive language instead of physical avoidance

to hedge

vsto fudge

17 7.4

To avoid giving a direct answer or clear commitment

focuses more on general evasive behaviour, not only careful wording

to sidestep

vsto fudge

15 4.9

To avoid answering a question or dealing with a problem directly

stresses evasive vagueness as a tactic rather than simple avoidance

to weasel out

vsto fudge

Informal

10 8.2

To avoid doing something you should do by being dishonest or tricky

avoids direct dealing mainly by being vague or evasive in speech

to equivocate

vsto fudge

7 9.9

To use unclear words to avoid giving a direct answer or telling the truth

is broader, covering avoidance by action as well as by vague language

to prevaricate

vsto fudge

Formal

3 9.1

To avoid giving a direct answer to hide the truth

is less about hiding truth and more about simple vagueness to avoid

to waffle on

vsto fudge

Informal

3 9.0

To keep changing your mind and not give a clear answer

is more deliberate and purposeful in evasive vagueness rather than indecision

to wiggle out of

vsto fudge

Informal

2 7.0

Avoid a duty or problem by making excuses

often uses vague replies as the main way to avoid responsibility

to parry

vsto fudge

2 8.1

To avoid answering a question by giving a vague answer

is more about speaking vaguely to dodge the issue rather than deflection

to sidestep the issue

vsto fudge

1 6.0

To avoid answering a difficult question by changing the subject

uses vague responses to avoid rather than simply ignoring the problem

to skirt around the issue

vsto fudge

1 6.8

To avoid talking about a difficult subject by giving vague answers

is similar but emphasises vagueness as the main tactic

to fudge the issue

vsto fudge

Informal

8.4

To avoid answering a question directly by being unclear

is the same avoidance but more general, not only the issue itself

to fudge one's way out

vsto fudge

Informal

9.1

To avoid taking responsibility by lying or being vague

avoids direct dealing by vagueness rather than by active escape

to palter

vsto fudge

9.9

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

tends to be milder, often simply vague rather than intended to mislead

to flannel

vsto fudge

9.6

To speak in a vague or praising way to avoid answering

is more neutral, avoiding direct dealing without insincere tone

to tergiversate

vsto fudge

Formal

9.9

To avoid a direct answer by being unclear on purpose

is milder and often conversational, not always meant to mislead

Antonyms

to address

∞ 3.6

To deal with a subject in speech or writing

to confront

359 4.4

Face a difficult problem or fear directly and bravely

Phrasal Verbs

to fudge one's way out

Informal

9.1

To avoid taking responsibility by lying or being vague

to fudge the details

Informal

7.7

Change facts on purpose to make something seem better

to fudge the issue

Informal

8.4

To avoid answering a question directly by being unclear

to fudge together

Informal

7.4

Make something quickly and carelessly using what you have

to pack fudge

8.8

Put fudge into boxes or wrap it in paper to make it ready to sell and give

Compounds

chocolate fudge

4 1.0

A soft, rich, sweet candy made from chocolate, sugar, and butter

fudge factor

Specialized

2 7.6

A small extra amount added to a calculation to allow for uncertainty

fudge packer

Slur

2 9.9

An offensive slang word people use to insult a gay man or someone who avoids hard choices

fudge sauce

1 1.0

A thick chocolate sauce served hot over desserts like ice cream

hot-fudge sauce

1 1.2

Thick hot chocolate that you pour over ice cream

divinity fudge

8.2

A light white fluffy candy made from whipped egg whites and sugar with nuts or vanilla

How Evasive

to stonewall

Literature

42 7.8

to evade

31 3.9

to fudge

5 7.7

hedge

9 7.5

Surface Forms

fudge infinitive

fudged past

fudged past participle

fudging present participle

fudges third person singular

Etymology

Fudge meaning to avoid a question or be vague comes from the same idea of 'making something up' instead of answering clearly. So to fudge an answer is to give a soft, unclear reply to stay away from the real issue.