crawlfish

Small lobster relative

Crawlfish is a freshwater crustacean resembling a small lobster, also called crayfish or crawdad depending on region.

The verb crawlfish means to back out of a commitment or retreat from a position—moving backward like the creature does: He crawlfished on his promise to help.

The verbal sense is informal and chiefly Southern U.S.

crustacean

mudbugs

Freshwater shellfish, Louisiana staple

freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
clawsAnimal gripping nails
boilHeat to bubbling point

shellfish · crustacean · lobster · pincers · burrow · molt · exoskeleton · antenna · swamp · bayou

cuisine

boil

Heat to bubbling point

CajunLouisiana's French descendants
LouisianaGulf Coast pelican state
étoufféeCajun smothered shellfish dish

bisque · gumbo · jambalaya · corn · potatoes · andouille · crawfish boil · Old Bay · seasoning · mudbugs

retreat

backpedal

Reverse one's stance

renegeBreak a pledge
withdrawRemove or pull away
retractWithdraw something said

back out · reverse · recant · retreat · hedge · weasel · backtrack · walk back · flip-flop · equivocate

Opposites

HABITAT TYPE (crustacean sense)

crawlfishlobster

Large marine shellfish

Maine lobster · spiny lobster

COMMITMENT/RESOLVE (verb sense)

crawlfishstand firm

Refuse to retreat

hold fast · stand one's ground · dig in · double down · commit

Family

crawl, fish, crawls, crawled, crawling, crawler, crawlers, fishes, fished

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G