Meaning of toe-dance | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To dance on en pointe or on the balls of one's feet.
2. To avoid an issue by equivocation, diplomacy, or changing the subject.

Examples

“At eight she could perform⟳ Chopin, sing⟳ Italian classics, paint⟳ and toe-dance.”

“In a few more months, she toe-danced, twirled and reached for the sun.”

“Inventive under stress⟳, Franklin toe-danced and spun around, faking high spirits “as if he were part of the fun instead of its object.””

“For five years, he toe-danced his way through a path of idiotic triple talk⟳, before the FCC finally shouted him down.”

“If a newsman had asked me to comment⟳ on Spiro T. Agnew, even a few weeks before the 1968 Republican convention, I would have⟳ “toe-danced”—which in press⟳ secretary terminology means dodging the question⟳.”

“Some skeptics have⟳ toe-danced around the issue⟳ for years, but they still have⟳ yet to answer⟳ that vital question⟳.”

“But from the way that actual Republican candidates toe-dance when they address actual abortion questions, it's clear that Republicans have⟳ finally gotten it through their thick skulls that even Republican women want⟳ abortion to be available at least as an option under certain circumstances.”

CEFR level