завилять хвостом

• ВИЛЯТЬ/ЗАВИЛЯТЬ ХВОСТОМ highly coll

[VP; subj: human; usu. impfv]

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1. (often in refer, to answering a question directly, answering for sth. etc) to (try to) evade sth.:

- X виляет хвостом{{}}≈ X is trying to weasel his way out of it;

- X is hedging (beating around the bush);

- [in limited contexts] X is trying to confuse the issue.

2. завилять хвостом перед кем to ingratiate o.s. before s.o., be subservient, try desperately to please s.o.:

- X виляет хвостом перед Y-ом{{}}≈ X falls all over Y;

- X kowtows before (to) Y;

- X kisses up to Y.

     ♦ Грубый и хамоватый с подчинёнными, он хорошо умел вилять хвостом перед начальством. Rude and boorish to his subordinates, he really knew how to kiss up to the bosses.