Prevarication for Dummies

Hey there! I'm so glad you're here with me today. I want to help you understand the word "prevarication." Now, I know it might sound like a big, complicated word, but don't you worry - I'm going to break it down for you in the simplest way possible.

So, imagine you're playing a game of hide-and-seek. You're the seeker, and your friend is hiding somewhere in your house. You start looking for your friend, and you go from room to room, checking under beds, in closets, and behind curtains. But just as you're about to give up and think your friend is really good at hiding, you hear a giggle coming from the kitchen. You rush over and find your friend hiding behind the countertop.

Now, let's relate this to the word "prevarication." When someone prevaricates, it means they are hiding the truth or avoiding giving a straight answer, just like your friend was hiding from you during the game. They might try to change the subject, tell white lies, or give vague answers to avoid being honest.

For example, imagine you ask your friend if they ate the last piece of cake. Instead of admitting it, they might say something like, "Oh, I think I saw my dog near the kitchen. Do you want to go play with him?" They're trying to distract you and avoid telling you the truth.

So, "prevarication" is like playing hide-and-seek with the truth. It's when someone avoids being straightforward and hides behind vague or misleading answers. It's important to remember that while it's natural to sometimes be hesitant or uncertain about the truth, prevarication can be seen as dishonest or evasive.

I hope this explanation helps you understand what "prevarication" means. If you have any more questions or need further examples, feel free to ask. Learning new words can be challenging, but together, we can make it a little bit easier!