pussyfoot

[ poos-ee-foot ]
/ ˈpʊs iˌfʊt /

verb (used without object)

to go or move in a stealthy or cautious manner.
to act cautiously or timidly, as if afraid to commit oneself on a point at issue.

noun, plural puss·y·foots.

a person with a catlike, or soft and stealthy, tread.
Chiefly British. a teetotaler or prohibitionist.

Origin of pussyfoot

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; pussy1 + foot

Example sentences from the Web for pussyfoot

British Dictionary definitions for pussyfoot

pussyfoot
/ (ˈpʊsɪˌfʊt) informal /

verb (intr)

to move about stealthily or warily like a cat
to avoid committing oneself

noun plural -foots

a person who pussyfoots