to JAQing off

1 9.9

To ask tricky or pointless questions to distract others and avoid answering the main point

phrasal verb

Slang

: desviar la conversación

Stop JAQing off and get to the point!

Examples

It's obvious that you're just JAQing off rather than looking for real answers.
She accused him of JAQing off when he kept asking loaded questions in the debate.
The moderator warned the participant to stop JAQing off and stick to the topic.
He always JAQs off during meetings.
During the debate, he started JAQing off by asking unrelated questions that distracted everyone.
When she noticed her colleague JAQing off, she redirected the conversation back to the main issue.
His habit of JAQing off often frustrated the team, as it pulled focus from important decisions.

Synonyms

to quibble

vsto JAQing off

27 7.0

To argue about small unimportant details to avoid the main point

instead uses insincere or irrelevant questions to distract the discussion

to jive

vsto JAQing off

Archaic

8 8.4

To talk in a way that is not honest to trick someone

uses repeated phony questions or irrelevant issues to derail conversation

to fudge the issue

vsto JAQing off

Informal

1 8.4

To avoid answering a question directly by being unclear

instead repeatedly asks misleading or irrelevant questions to distract attention

to deflect the conversation

vsto JAQing off

1 7.0

To change the topic on purpose to avoid a subject

uses repeated disingenuous questions or irrelevant points to derail discussion

to talking bullspit

vsto JAQing off

Offensive

9.9

To say nonsense or unimportant things to avoid giving a clear answer

prefers asking fake or off-topic questions to derail or distract talk

Antonyms

engaging

72 3.5

Holding your attention because it is pleasant or interesting

clarifying

5 3.3

That helps people understand something more clearly

How Disruptive

to JAQing off

Slang

1 9.9

to probe

Literature

46 5.1

Surface Forms

JAQing off infinitive

JAQing present participle

JAQings third person singular

JAQed off past

JAQed off past participle

Morphology

JAQing + off

The head element 'JAQing' is an idiosyncratic acronymal slang (from 'Just Asking Questions') rather than a standard lexical item, so a B1 learner who knows ordinary words cannot parse its sarcastic/derailing sense; the particle 'off' offers no clear compositional cue. The meaning (asking disingenuous or derailment questions) is internet-/culture-specific and idiomatic, not predictable from the constituents, so it will be opaque to most learners.

Etymology

JAQing off comes from the internet short form of 'Just Asking Questions' and a rude sounding joke that makes the phrase memorable. People use it for someone who pretends to ask normal questions but really tries to distract or attack, so it means 'to ask disingenuous questions to derail a discussion'.