Question

in_the_loop_676 to avoid answering a question directly by being deliberately vague about it, or by talking a lot but not saying anything meaningful Compare to: beat around the bush; hem and haw

Accepted Answer

STONEWALL The newspaper reporter asked the president whether he intended to seek reelection. The president did not want to reveal his decision, so he stonewalled by talking around it.The bank manager was called before the board of directors to answer questions about the large number of bad loans made by his bank. The directors asked him who had approved the loans. The manager said he wasn’t sure, that the decisions were made by several people and it would be hard to determine who specifically had approved each one. The manager was stonewalling the board. Hem and haw describes being at a loss for words, making only meaningless sounds, whereas stonewall means talking but saying little of substance. The expression is usually used to describe people that want to avoid taking responsibility or answering a direct question.

Id	in_the_loop_676
Idiom	STONEWALL
Definition	to avoid answering a question directly by being deliberately vague about it, or by talking a lot but not saying anything meaningful
Examples	The newspaper reporter asked the president whether he intended to seek reelection. The president did not want to reveal his decision, so he stonewalled by talking around it. The bank manager was called before the board of directors to answer questions about the large number of bad loans made by his bank. The directors asked him who had approved the loans. The manager said he wasn’t sure, that the decisions were made by several people and it would be hard to determine who specifically had approved each one. The manager was stonewalling the board.
Cross-Refs	Compare to: beat around the bush; hem and haw
Extra Info	Hem and haw describes being at a loss for words, making only meaningless sounds, whereas stonewall means talking but saying little of substance. The expression is usually used to describe people that want to avoid taking responsibility or answering a direct question.

Talking Manager Stonewall Avoid Answering Asked President Directors