handwave
verb [ I or T ] uk/ˈhænd.weɪv/ us/ˈhænd.weɪv/
（做事）避重就轻;（说话）避而不谈
to behave or talk as if a problem, question, etc. is not important or worth serious attention, for example by ignoring it, discussing it in a very general way, or discussing something else instead
I feel like the questions got handwaved off by the speaker.
His talk handwaved over some important details. 他的讲话对一些重要的细节避而不谈。
We handwave this inconsistency by assuming it was a revision error.
Synonym: dismiss
- More examples
- When my arguments don't make logical sense I just try to handwave off the inconsistent stuff.
- Talking about seasonal unemployment is a good way to handwave away the need for new jobs.
- If someone starts a sentence with "Clearly..." or "Obviously..." it is a likely sign that he is about to handwave.
- You can handwave this plot hole as the choice of the narrator but I think a skilful writer should have handled it better.
handwave
noun [ C ] uk/ˈhænd.weɪv/ us/ˈhænd.weɪv/
避重就轻的行为;避而不谈的话语
an act of behaving or talking as if a problem, question, etc. is not important or worth serious attention, for example by ignoring it, discussing it in a very general way, or discussing something else instead
Paraphrasing someone's arguments in a sarcastic tone is a classic handwave. 用讽刺的语气转述别人的论点是典型的避重就轻的做法。
- More examples
- The whole chapter is a giant handwave about design.
- This is the mathematical equivalent of a handwave: important steps are left out so that something is assumed to be true.