stonewall
Medium (common in political, legal, and journalistic contexts; less common in everyday conversation)Formal to Neutral. Commonly used in journalism, political commentary, law, and corporate contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To delay, obstruct, or refuse to cooperate with a process or enquiry, typically by giving evasive answers or refusing to provide information.
In sports (e.g., cricket), to bat defensively with the primary aim of not losing one's wicket rather than scoring runs. To present an immovable barrier or resistance.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term carries a strong negative connotation of deliberate, uncooperative obstruction. As a verb, it is often used transitively (e.g., 'to stonewall an investigation'). The passive voice is common ('the committee was stonewalled').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The core meaning is identical in both variants. In sports (cricket), 'stonewall' is more common in UK/Australian/NZ contexts. In US political discourse, the term is frequently used regarding congressional or legal procedures.
Connotations
Equally negative in both, implying deliberate, frustrating obstruction. In the UK, it may more readily evoke the literal image of a high stone wall.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to its prominence in US political journalism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject - often an organisation or person in authority] stonewalls [Object - e.g., an investigation, the media].[Subject] is accused of stonewalling.Passive: The investigation was stonewalled by the department.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To run into a brick wall (similar sense of immovable obstruction)”
- “To give someone the silent treatment (related tactic of non-cooperation)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The legal team advised the CEO to stonewall the auditors until the merger was complete.
Academic
The historian argued that the government's strategy was to stonewall requests for archival access.
Everyday
Whenever I ask him about his plans, he just stonewalls me.
Technical
The defence counsel's primary tactic was to stonewall the prosecution's discovery requests.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The minister was accused of attempting to stonewall the parliamentary select committee.
- The batsman decided to stonewall for the final session to secure a draw.
- They've been stonewalling our Freedom of Information requests for months.
American English
- The company continued to stonewall the federal investigation into its practices.
- The senator's strategy was to stonewall the nomination process.
- Don't just stonewall me—give me a straight answer.
adjective
British English
- The witness's stonewall attitude frustrated the barrister.
- They adopted a stonewall defence in the final overs of the match.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The manager stonewalled when asked about the missing funds.
- Why do you always stonewall my questions?
- The official was criticised for stonewalling journalists during the press conference.
- Despite the evidence, the suspect continued to stonewall the detectives.
- Their stonewalling tactics delayed the project by several weeks.
- The committee's report condemned the agency's systematic efforts to stonewall its oversight mandate.
- A skilled parliamentarian, he was able to stonewall the bill's progress through procedural manoeuvres.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person building a tall STONE WALL in front of a questioner to BLOCK all their questions.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION/COOPERATION IS A PATH; OBSTRUCTION/REFUSAL IS A PHYSICAL BARRIER (a wall).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not directly related to 'каменная стена' (literal wall). The verb 'заблокировать' or 'ставить палки в колеса' captures the obstruction, but the specific connotation of *deliberate, evasive non-cooperation* is key. 'Упрямиться' is too much about stubbornness, not calculated obstruction.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a noun to mean 'obstacle' (e.g., 'We hit a stonewall') – while understood, the standard noun is 'stonewalling'.
- Confusing with 'stall', which can be more passive or accidental; stonewalling is active and deliberate.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'to stonewall' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in its primary meaning of obstruction. It implies deliberate, unhelpful resistance. The sporting use (cricket) is more neutral, describing a valid defensive tactic.
The gerund 'stonewalling' is the standard noun form (e.g., 'accusations of stonewalling'). Using 'stonewall' as a noun (e.g., 'hit a stonewall') is informal and less common.
It originates from the literal image of a strong, immovable stone wall. Its figurative use for obstruction dates to the mid-19th century. It is famously associated with the nickname of Confederate General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson, but the verb's usage developed independently from the general metaphorical concept.
'Delay' can be neutral or unintentional. 'Stonewall' specifically implies an active, deliberate, and often evasive strategy to obstruct progress or withhold information.
Explore