verb / noun
fudge
An evasive makeshift treatment of a problem.
The manager fudges the numbers to hide a budget shortfall.
Etymology
Fudge is associated with making something up or handling it dishonestly or inadequately. The noun describes a makeshift answer that evades the real difficulty; the word’s deeper origin is uncertain.
More examples
- Please don't fudge your answer about who approved the changes.
- Their compromise is a fudge that leaves the real dispute unresolved.
- The patch is a fudge, not a proper fix.
Forms
fudge · fudges · fudged · fudging
Similar words
- equivocate
- Means speaking ambiguously to avoid giving a definite answer.
- dodge
- Emphasizes avoiding an issue rather than handling it misleadingly.
- workaround
- Names an indirect solution without necessarily suggesting evasiveness or dishonesty.