weasel

Everyday

1. A weasel is a small, thin, fast wild animal with brown fur and a long body that hunts mice and voles. tree →
2. (informal, rude) A weasel is a sneaky person who cannot be trusted. tree →
3. To weasel out of something (informal) is to avoid doing it in a sneaky way. tree →
4. Weasel words are vague words used to avoid saying something clearly. tree →

In the lessons

In nature studies it is a small hunter of the British countryside. In stories, weasels are often sly villains (as in "The Wind in the Willows"). In English lessons, "weasel words" are a trick in adverts and speeches. Phrases: weasel out of, weasel words, sly as a weasel.

Examples

• A weasel slipped into the hole after a mouse. tree →
• Don't trust him — he's a real weasel. tree →
• He tried to weasel out of washing up. tree →
• "Up to 50% off" uses weasel words. tree →
• The weasels took over Toad Hall in the story. tree →
• Weasels are the smallest meat-eating mammals in Britain. tree →
• Just then a Weasel came by. tree →

Note

Countable. UK spelling weaselled, US weaseled. Calling a person a weasel is an insult. Pop Goes the Weasel is a nursery rhyme. Stoats look similar but are bigger with a black tail tip.

In Jewish tradition

It is listed among the unclean swarming creatures that may not be eaten.

Interpretation. It is one of the animals Jewish law marks as forbidden food, and no reason is given in the text.

Examples

• And these are they which are unclean unto you among the swarming things that swarm upon the earth: the weasel, and the mouse, and the great lizard after its kinds, (Torah LEV.11.29, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable. UK spelling weaselled, US weaseled. Calling a person a weasel is an insult. Pop Goes the Weasel is a nursery rhyme. Stoats look similar but are bigger with a black tail tip.