about the bush back and fill back down balance beat around beg the question debate deliberate demur dodge duck equivocate evade falter fear fence halt hang back haw hedge hem hesitate hover hum hum and haw jib mammer mince the truth mince words palter parry pause ponder prevaricate pull away pull back pussyfoot put off recoil retreat scruple sheer off shift shift off shilly-shally shrink shy shy away shy off sidestep stammer step aside stick at stickle stop to consider straddle the fence strain at stumble stutter swerve tergiversate think twice about waffle ward off weasel withdraw yield