CIRCUMLOCUTION in a Sentence

Learn CIRCUMLOCUTION from example sentences; some of them are from classic books. These examples are selected from a corpus with 300,000 sentences, including classic works and current mainstream media. Some sentences also link to their contexts.

Example sentences for CIRCUMLOCUTION, such as:

1. He was afraid to call a spade a spade and resorted to circumlocution to avoid direct reference to his subject.
2. Mr. Losberne, who appeared desirous of gaining time, recounted them at great length, and with much circumlocution.

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 Meanings and Examples of CIRCUMLOCUTION
Definition Example Sentence Classic Sentence
circumlocution
 n.  indirect or roundabout expression; evasion in speech or writing
Classic Sentence:
1  Mr. Losberne, who appeared desirous of gaining time, recounted them at great length, and with much circumlocution.
Oliver Twist By Charles Dickens
Context  Highlight   In CHAPTER XXXI
2  You asked for frankness, Mr. Holmes, and I have taken you at your word, for I have now told you everything without an attempt at circumlocution or concealment.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes By Arthur Conan Doyle
Context  Highlight   In V. THE ADVENTURE OF THE PRIORY SCHOOL
3  I had made use of many circumlocutions in describing to him the nature of the several crimes for which most of our crew had been forced to fly their country.
Gulliver's Travels 2 By Jonathan Swift
Context  Highlight   In PART 4: CHAPTER IV.
Example Sentence:
1  He was afraid to call a spade a spade and resorted to circumlocution to avoid direct reference to his subject.