doublespeak

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doublespeak

Deliberately evasive, confusing, contradictory, and/or ambiguous language used to mislead or deceive the listener. Likely adapted from George Orwell's term "doublethink," from his 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, meaning the ability to simultaneously hold two opposing thoughts or beliefs as being correct in one's mind. Like any successful politician, she was quite adept at doublespeak whenever confronted with bad publicity.

double talk

1. Meaningless speech, gibberish mixing real and invented words. For example, Some popular songs are actually based on double talk. [1930s]
2. Also, doublespeak. Deliberately ambiguous and evasive language. For example, I got tired of her double talk and demanded to know the true story, or His press secretary was very adept at doublespeak. This usage dates from the late 1940s, and the variant from about 1950.
See also: double, talk
References in periodicals archive ?
We want a strong, confident voice and perhaps we shall finally hear one which has not been tainted by Downing Street double-speak.
DAILY POST: What was the point of Lib Dems?
Council officials will call it system standardisation or harmonisation or some such diffuse, corporate double-speak.
Penny-pinchers
The public is entitled to know that honest and courageous Republicans can see through this administration's double-speak, bungling and lack of strategy - what these two GOP senators termed Bush's ``nonsense assurances.
PUBLIC FORUM BRILLIANT SCHEME
It wallows in unbridled euphoria; it drips with double-speak, mock-sincerity, and cynicism.
From Aileen M. Sivell re Earth Charter. (Letters to the Editor)
Bloomfield dispensed with the double-speak that generally characterizes Establishment calls for world government.
Should America go to war? When our freedoms and sovereignty are threatened, we have to fight. But resuming the war on Iraq would actually empower a far greater threat--the United Nations. (Foreign Quarrels)
Late Late Show journalist Will Hanafin has spent countless hours researching Bertie's brand of double-speak, clangers and vagaries.
Irish Man Of The People: It's not just the way dat Bertie tells dem things
His claims of wishing to pursue other interests is Tory double-speak for chasing a Jeffrey Archer-sized fortune.
He's taking the Michael
We are starting to change a long tradition of hypocrisy and double-speak by the Mexican government.
Pot CaLls Kettle, "B Lack"
Such double-speak has become a staple of discourse on this civil war.
Bosnia's agony
Great Western's statement concerning `additional information' is double-speak and disingenuous.
H.F. Ahmanson committed to pursuing merger proposal
We now know that these are empty promises, aided and abetted by the double-speak of the Coalition, which promises to retain the green belt designation and yet appears to give signals to developers that nothing can hold them back.
Green belt plan without merit; Views of the North
An open man, Arthur doesn't talk in coach double-speak and is refreshingly honest.
Oz media hails Arthur for turning Proteas into fierce fighting force
But three governments, Britain, France and Germany, combining to build the world's largest airliner, have managed to produce a chaotic situation, beset with indecision and double-speak.
DAILY POST YOUR VOICE IN WALES: Superjumbo just too big to handle?
National League manager Dusty Baker, continuing with his recent roll of double-speak, said he would try to play everyone and win the game.
LIKE IT OR NOT, RESULT A HIT
It will incense a public fed up with spin, double-speak and obfustication.
Broadside for Brown on petrol 'poll bribe'
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