crawfishing

Retreating from commitment

Crawfishing is an informal American term for backing out of a commitment or reversing one's position, especially in a way that seems evasive or cowardly.

The image comes from the crawfish (or crayfish), which moves backward when retreating from danger.

The senator started crawfishing on his campaign promises as soon as he took office.

The term is particularly common in Southern dialects and political commentary.

crustacean

mudbug

Freshwater crustacean, colloquially

freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
decapodTen-appendaged arthropod or cephalopod
clawsAnimal gripping nails

exoskeleton · antennae · carapace · molting · burrow · pinchers · tail · arthropod · shellfish · gills

cajun

Louisiana

Gulf Coast pelican state

bayouMarshy, slow-moving waterway
CajunLouisiana's French descendants
etouffeeSmothered Cajun shellfish dish

gumbo · boil · mudbugs · swamp · creole · Southern · delta · marsh · New Orleans · spicy

backpedaling

retract

Withdraw something said

renegeBreak a pledge
withdrawRemove or pull away
reverseTurn to opposite

recant · backtrack · retreat · flip-flop · walk back · backing down · disavow · rescind · reconsider · repudiate

harvesting

traps

Devices for catching prey

catchSeize or snag
seasonYearly division or series
pondsSmall freshwater bodies

bait · netting · commercial · regulations · license · quota · freshwater · trawl · sustainability · aquaculture

crawfishing

mudbug

Louisiana

retract

traps

crawfishing

Opposites

Categories

Family