はぐらかす
はぐらかす
verb (godan)
to dodge, to evade, to give the runaround
1.
to dodge, to evade, to deflect
To skillfully avoid answering a question or dealing with a topic by changing the subject, giving a vague response, or distracting the other person.
質問をはぐらかされた。
My question was dodged.
彼は都合の悪い話題をいつもはぐらかす。
He always dodges inconvenient topics.
冗談ではぐらかそうとしたが、相手は真剣だった。
I tried to deflect with a joke, but the other person was serious.
はぐらかす describes a deliberate evasion — not through refusal, but through skillful redirection or vagueness.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: Transitive (他動詞)
- Pattern: 〜をはぐらかす
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 質問をはぐらかす (to dodge a question)
- 話題をはぐらかす (to deflect a topic)
- 話をはぐらかす (to evade a conversation)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- ごまかす: to cover up, to gloss over (broader, includes deception)
- はぐらかす: to dodge, to evade (specifically about deflecting questions/topics)
- 逃げる: to run away (physical or figurative escape)
USAGE: Often used with a slightly negative connotation, suggesting the person is being evasive or uncooperative.