To pussyfoot is to be too careful and too frightened to do the thing that needs doing: to make a firm decision, or to tell someone exactly what you think. You step around the point. You use soft words. You wait.

To pussyfoot pussyfoot是指 is to be too careful and too frightened太過小心、太害怕 to do the thing that needs doing而不敢做該做的事: to make a firm decision像是做出明確決定, or to tell someone exactly what you think或把心裡真正的想法講出來. You step around the point你會繞著重點打轉. You use soft words你會講些軟話. You wait你會拖著.

The picture behind the word is a cat putting its feet down lightly, testing the ground, making almost no sound.

The picture behind the word這個字背後的畫面是 is a cat putting its feet down lightly一隻貓輕輕放下腳步, testing the ground試探地面, making almost no sound幾乎不發出聲音.

Though actually, people also pussyfoot when they are being politic, not only when they are scared — they do not want to be pinned to one side.

Though actually不過其實 people also pussyfoot有人pussyfoot when they are being politic是因為在耍政治手腕, not only when they are scared不只是因為害怕 — they do not want to be pinned to one side他們不想被逼著選邊站.

The verb is informal, and it usually complains: Stop pussyfooting. There is a noun too, for that same careful way of going that will not land, but you will hear the verb more. It is not about feet in a medical sense.

The verb動詞用法 is informal是口語的, and it usually complains而且通常帶著抱怨: Stop pussyfooting別再畏首畏尾了(範例). There is a noun too也有名詞用法, for that same careful way of going that will not land指那種拖泥帶水、遲遲不落地的謹慎作風, but you will hear the verb more但你會更常聽到動詞. It is not about feet in a medical sense它跟醫學上的腳無關.