Dictionary

pussyfoot en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ˈpɵsɪjˌfɵt/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /-si-/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• /-sɪ-/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• /ˈpʊsiˌfʊt/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation, US)
• /ˈpʉseˌfʉt/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)

Etymology

From pussy (“feline”) + foot; because of the light and careful tread of cats.

Meanings

1. (countable, dated) A teetotaller.
   • "We keep off that road like a pussyfoot keeps off whiskey. Get it out of your bean that we're exploring a deserted ruin." 1930, Sax Rohmer, The Day the World Ended, published 1969, page xi. 103:
2. (countable, uncountable) Synonym of bluemink (“Ageratum houstonianum”).

Forms

Relateds

pussytoe · walk on eggshells · beat about the bush · go around the houses

Synonyms

bluemink

pussyfoot en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ˈpɵsɪjˌfɵt/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /-si-/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• /-sɪ-/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• /ˈpʊsiˌfʊt/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation, US)
• /ˈpʉseˌfʉt/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)

Etymology

From pussy (“feline”) + foot; because of the light and careful tread of cats.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To move silently, stealthily, or furtively.
2. (intransitive) To act timidly or cautiously.
   • — So are you going to practice what you’re preaching and stop pussyfooting around with Faye? — Hey, I’m 0 for 1 when it comes to practicing what I preach. These feet stay pussied for the time being. 2004, Jeph Jacques, Fripp and Eno:
   • The TSSA union said the Government should "stop pussyfooting around" and place Euston at the heart of the transformative rail project. 2023 April 5, “Network News: NAO: Use HS2 Euston pause to put project on a stable footing”, in RAIL, number 980, page 13:
3. (intransitive) To use euphemistic language or circumlocution.
   • "Then you talk up! And plain! What's there to be so pussyfooting about?" 1946, Tennessee Williams, The Unsatisfactory Supper:

Forms

Deriveds

pussyfootism · pussyfooter

Synonyms

pollyfox

Translations (35)

sv fega (to act timidly) · de schleichen (to move silently) · bg промъквам се тихо (to move silently) · bg действам предпазливо (to act timidly) · no gå på gummisåler (to use euphemistic language) · sv fjompa (to act timidly) · nl trippelen (to move silently) · de trippeln (to move silently) · cs opatrně našlapovat (to move silently) · cs jednat příliš opatrně (to act timidly) · sv omskriva (to use euphemistic language) · fo smeita (to move silently) · sv omformulera (to use euphemistic language) · fi hipsiä (to move silently) · nl treuzelen (to act timidly) · nl sluipen (to move silently) · fi hyssytellä (to use euphemistic language) · sv skönmåla (to use euphemistic language) · sv trippa (to move silently) · fi hiipiä (to move silently) · de um den heißen Brei schleichen (to act timidly) · de herumschleichen (to move silently) · no skjønnmale (to use euphemistic language) · de auf Zehenspitzen gehen (to move silently) · fi sievistellä (to use euphemistic language) · sv tassa (to move silently) · sv smyga (to move silently) · fi hissutella (to act timidly) · nl schoonspreken (to use euphemistic language) · de leisetreten (to act timidly) · de leisetreten (to move silently) · de um den heißen Brei herumreden (to use euphemistic language) · fi arastella (to act timidly) · fi hipsutella (to move silently) · no gå på gummisåler (to act timidly)