waffle

A flat cooked food with little square holes, often served sweet for breakfast.

• I had a waffle for breakfast.
• She put strawberries on her waffles.
• Would you like butter with your waffle?

Common phrases: a waffle, waffle iron, waffle with syrup, waffle batter

Speech or writing that uses many words but gives little clear or useful information.

• His answer was mostly waffle.
• Cut the waffle from your report.
• The speech contained plenty of waffle but no clear plan.

Similar words: rambling, hot air, padding

Common phrases: a lot of waffle, meaningless waffle, full of waffle

To talk or write for a long time without making a clear or useful point.

• Please stop waffling and answer the question.
• She waffled on for ten minutes.
• He tends to waffle when asked about money.

How to use it: waffle on about something (He waffled on about his plans without giving any details.)

Similar words: ramble, drone on

Common phrases: waffle on, waffle about something

To have trouble deciding, or keep changing your decision or opinion.

• Stop waffling and choose a restaurant.
• He waffled between the two job offers.
• The committee is still waffling on the final date.

How to use it: waffle between A and B (She waffled between accepting the offer and staying home.); waffle on something (The mayor continues to waffle on the proposal.)

Similar words: waver, vacillate, hesitate

Common phrases: waffle on something, waffle between options

If a bird does this, it sways from side to side as it comes down to land.

• The geese waffle before landing.
• A goose waffled as it descended toward the lake.
• We watched the birds waffling above the water.

Similar words: whiffle

Common phrases: geese waffle, waffle before landing