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Japanese

おちゃをにごす
Meaning: to evade a question; to give a vague answer
Part of Speech: Verb, Idiom

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Verb inflections

Verb inflections
Form Affirmative Negative
Present お茶を濁す お茶を濁さない
Polite お茶を濁します お茶を濁しません
Past お茶を濁した お茶を濁さなかった
Polite + Past お茶を濁しました お茶を濁しませんでした
Te-form お茶を濁して お茶を濁さなくて
Potential お茶を濁せる お茶を濁せない
Passive お茶を濁される お茶を濁されない
Causative お茶を濁させる お茶を濁させない
Imperative お茶を濁せ お茶を濁すな

Example

彼は会議で曖昧な返事をして、お茶を濁した。
When asked about the missing report, he gave a vague reply and dodged the issue in the meeting.

Usage Notes

An idiom for avoiding a direct answer or concealing an awkward matter with an intentionally vague response.

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