weasel
C1Informal when describing a person; neutral when referring to the animal.
Definition
Meaning
A small, slender carnivorous mammal with short legs and reddish-brown fur, known for its agility and opportunistic hunting.
A person who is deceitful, cunning, or avoids responsibility, often in a sneaky or evasive manner.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The animal meaning is literal and neutral. The human meaning is pejorative, suggesting untrustworthiness and trickery, often through ambiguous language or evasion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties share the same core and extended meanings. The verb 'to weasel out (of something)' is equally common.
Connotations
Equally negative when applied to a person.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, particularly in political commentary ('weasel words').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to weasel out of [responsibility/promise]to weasel [information/oneself] into/out of [place/situation]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “weasel out of something”
- “weasel words”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used negatively to describe a colleague who avoids commitments or uses deceptive language in contracts.
Academic
Rare, except in biology (zoology) or linguistic discussions of 'weasel words' in rhetoric.
Everyday
Common for calling someone untrustworthy or describing evasion. 'Don't try to weasel out of our deal!'
Technical
In zoology, refers specifically to species in the genus Mustela.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He always tries to weasel his way out of paying his share of the bill.
- They weaselled the confidential data out of the junior clerk.
American English
- The senator weaseled out of giving a direct answer.
- He weaseled his name onto the guest list at the last minute.
adverb
British English
- He grinned weaselly as he avoided the question.
American English
- She spoke weaselly, never committing to a firm position.
adjective
British English
- His weasel behaviour lost him the trust of the team.
- That's a weaselly thing to say.
American English
- The contract was full of weasel wording to avoid liability.
- I don't trust his weasel-faced excuses.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a small weasel in the garden.
- The weasel is a fast animal.
- He is a weasel; you cannot believe a word he says.
- Don't let him weasel out of his promise.
- Politicians are often accused of using weasel words to obscure their true intentions.
- She managed to weasel her way into the exclusive club.
- The lawyer's weaselly phrasing created a loophole large enough to drive a truck through.
- His reputation as a corporate weasel made it difficult for him to find new partners.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a WEASEL is a creature that will EASILY slip out of any agreement or hole.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECEITFUL BEHAVIOR IS THE MOVEMENT OF A WEASEL (slippery, evasive, sneaky).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'ласка' (least weasel) when referring to a deceitful person. Use 'хитрец', 'проныра'.
- The idiom 'weasel out' has no direct equivalent; use 'увернуться от (обязанностей)', 'уклониться'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'weasel' as a direct synonym for any small animal (incorrect).
- Confusing 'weasel' (animal/sneaky person) with 'ferret' (similar animal, also a verb meaning 'to search persistently').
Practice
Quiz
What does the phrase 'weasel words' primarily refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a pejorative term implying dishonesty, cunning, and evasiveness.
They are all mustelids. A stoat is larger than a weasel and turns white in winter (ermine). A ferret is a domesticated form of the European polecat, often larger and used for hunting.
It is generally considered informal. In formal contexts, use alternatives like 'evade', 'equivocate', or 'obfuscate'.
Popularized by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in 1916, based on the idea that weasels suck the contents out of eggs, leaving the shell intact—similarly, 'weasel words' suck the meaning out of a statement.