Weasel out
verb
To avoid doing something that you promised or agreed to do.
John promised to help me, but he tried to weasel out by saying he had other plans.
Often appears as...
- weasel out of a promise
- weasel out of a deal
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
verb
To evade or deflect a question or topic.
When asked about his past, he would always find a way to weasel out.
Often appears as...
- weasel out of a question
- weasel out of a topic
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
verb
To avoid doing something that you promised or agreed to do.
John promised to help me, but he tried to weasel out by saying he had other plans.
Often appears as...
- weasel out of a promise
- weasel out of a deal
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
verb
To evade or deflect a question or topic.
When asked about his past, he would always find a way to weasel out.
Often appears as...
- weasel out of a question
- weasel out of a topic
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The phrase suggests dishonesty or unreliability and often carries a negative judgment.
Sarah didn't appreciate how Mike tried to weasel out of the contract.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Evasion
It implies a clever or sneaky way of avoiding responsibility without a direct refusal.
He managed to weasel out of doing the dishes without anyone noticing.
Pro Tip 3/3Conversational Context
Commonly used in spoken English among friends or in informal settings.
They were weaseling out of going to the reunion.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The phrase suggests dishonesty or unreliability and often carries a negative judgment.
Sarah didn't appreciate how Mike tried to weasel out of the contract.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Evasion
It implies a clever or sneaky way of avoiding responsibility without a direct refusal.
He managed to weasel out of doing the dishes without anyone noticing.
Pro Tip 3/3Conversational Context
Commonly used in spoken English among friends or in informal settings.
They were weaseling out of going to the reunion.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The phrase suggests dishonesty or unreliability and often carries a negative judgment.
Sarah didn't appreciate how Mike tried to weasel out of the contract.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Evasion
It implies a clever or sneaky way of avoiding responsibility without a direct refusal.
He managed to weasel out of doing the dishes without anyone noticing.
Pro Tip 3/3Conversational Context
Commonly used in spoken English among friends or in informal settings.
They were weaseling out of going to the reunion.
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