English Reference
Idiom idiom

weasel out


To shirk, avoid, or fail to fulfill (a task, responsibility, etc.)

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

“Don't try to weasel out of your chores today.”

CONTEXTUAL

“He promised to help with the move, but now he is trying to weasel out of it.”

COMPLEX

“Despite his previous commitment to the project, he attempted to weasel out of his responsibilities once the workload became too demanding.”


Related idioms1entry
  1. 01

    weasel into

    To enter a place or a situation by being dishonest or by persuading someone in a clever way.

Last updated August 10, 2026