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Definition
To ask about something in a roundabout way; to sound someone out or drop hints indirectly.
How it's used
This idiom describes a strategy of gathering information by avoiding direct questions, often to avoid confrontation or to keep one's true intentions hidden. While it is a formal idiom, it is frequently used in casual conversation to describe someone who is being evasive or manipulative in their questioning. It carries a slightly negative connotation, implying that the person is not being straightforward or honest.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with simply being shy or polite. It is important to remember that this phrase specifically implies a calculated effort to extract information indirectly, rather than just a lack of confidence in asking a direct question.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
