Phrase guide

weasel out

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To shirk, avoid, or fail to fulfill (a task, responsibility, etc.)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive, often

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cop out

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To obtain or extract, especially by cunning methods.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dig up, ferret out, sniff out

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: lusmuilla — to weasel out of doing something
  • Finnish: kiemurrella — to weasel out of doing something
  • Polish: wymigiwać się — to weasel out of doing something
  • Polish: wymigać się — to weasel out of doing something
  • Polish: wykręcać się — to weasel out of doing something
  • Polish: wykręcić się — to weasel out of doing something
  • Polish: wić się jak piskorz — to weasel out of doing something
  • Polish: wycwanić się — to weasel out of doing something
  • Russian: уви́ливать (uvílivatʹ) — to weasel out of doing something
  • Russian: увильну́ть (uvilʹnútʹ) — to weasel out of doing something
  • Spanish: esquivar[se] — to weasel out of doing something
  • Spanish: eludir[se] — to weasel out of doing something
  • Spanish: escabullirse — to weasel out of doing something
  • Finnish: huiputtaa — to weasel something out of someone
  • Finnish: kieroilla — to weasel something out of someone
  • Polish: wić się jak piskorz — to weasel something out of someone
  • Russian: отверте́ться (otvertétʹsja) — to weasel something out of someone
  • Spanish: esquivar — to weasel something out of someone
  • Spanish: eludir — to weasel something out of someone
  • Spanish: vaguear — to weasel something out of someone