waffle
waffle — noun
1. a crisp, thick batter cake baked between two heated metal plates with a grid pat
a crisp, thick batter cake baked between two heated metal plates with a grid pattern, giving it a distinctive square-marked surface on both sides.
Nkechi ordered a waffle with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for breakfast.
a + waffle with [topping]
Hugo's aunt gave him a waffle iron for his birthday last month.
collocation: waffle iron
Layla spread butter and honey over her hot waffle before eating it.
The café on Market Street serves the best waffles in town.
文法句型
a + waffle
waffles (plural)
2. words or text that sound meaningful but contain little real substance or useful
words or text that sound meaningful but contain little real substance or useful detail.
Dewi's report was full of waffle and completely missed the main issue.
full of waffle
Élise told the speaker to cut the waffle and give a straight answer.
collocation: cut the waffle
Jason's speech sounded clever at first, but it turned out to be just waffle.
Meera removed all the waffle from her essay and kept only the key points.
- hot air
more informal and dismissive than waffle; implies intentional exaggeration rather than mere wordiness
- nonsense
stronger and more negative; suggests the content is not just wordy but false or absurd
- gibberish
focuses on the lack of clarity to the point of being impossible to understand, not just empty
文法句型
full of waffle
just waffle
cut the waffle
用法筆記
This sense is uncountable — you cannot say 'waffles' to mean empty talk. Common in informal British English; less common in American English.
常見錯誤
waffle — verb
1. to keep speaking or writing for a long time while avoiding the main point and sa
to keep speaking or writing for a long time while avoiding the main point and saying nothing definite.
Mateo waffled on about his weekend plans for nearly half an hour.
waffle on about [topic] — continuous, lengthy speech
When Noa asked for directions, the old man just waffled and pointed vaguely.
Christopher tends to waffle during staff meetings instead of giving a brief update.
Daichi waffled through his presentation and ran out of time before reaching the conclusion.
- ramble
focuses more on disorganised, wandering speech than on intentionally avoiding the point; slightly less negative
- blather
more dismissive; implies the speaker is talking nonsense rather than just being vague
- equivocate
formal and deliberate; suggests the speaker is intentionally avoiding a clear answer, not just being wordy
文法句型
waffle on about [topic]
waffle about [topic]
waffle through [something]
用法筆記
Common in informal British English. The particle 'on' emphasises the length of time spent speaking without reaching a point. 'Waffle through' suggests the whole duration of an event was filled with vague talk.
常見錯誤
2. to struggle to choose between options, often changing your mind repeatedly and f
to struggle to choose between options, often changing your mind repeatedly and failing to settle on one.
The committee waffled over the budget proposal for three weeks.
waffle over [decision / issue]
Dr. Okafor waffled between accepting a job in London and staying in Lagos.
waffle between [X] and [Y] — two specific options
The hiring team's waffling has delayed the whole recruitment process.
My father waffled about which car to buy until the sale ended.
- waver
less informal than 'waffle'; implies hesitation or fluctuation in opinion, often due to doubt
- vacillate
more formal and literary; emphasises rapid, repeated changes between opposing positions
- dither
British informal, like 'waffle'; focuses on the inability to act due to excessive caution or worry about the wrong choice
文法句型
waffle between [X] and [Y]
waffle over [decision]
waffle about [choice]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (SPEAK VAGUELY): this sense is about being unable to decide, not about talking without substance. The preposition 'between' signals two clear alternatives; 'over' and 'about' are used for a single issue or choice.