Meaning of tumbleweed | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Any plant which habitually breaks away from its roots once dry, forming a light, rolling mass which is driven by the wind from place to place; as Russian thistle, wild indigo, witch grass, Amaranthus albus, etc.
   countable, uncountable
2. Describing unwanted silence and inactivity. Often used of a situation when one makes a statement that is ignored or ill-received by one's audience, as the resultant silence is likened to that of a desolate desert with rolling tumbleweeds.
   attributive, countable, uncountable
3. A tan colour, like that of a tumbleweed.
   countable, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“Putting an ad in the local paper that Spock's Beard and Arena are in town will get you a tumbleweed response and some wasted revenue.”

““Why do families argue?” may only induce the tumbleweed response. (Could you answer that question out of the blue?)”

CEFR level