How do you politely avoid answering a personal question?

Try one of the following evasive maneuvers instead.
  1. Answer with another question. Pause and respond with a question of your own. ...
  2. Dodge the question. ...
  3. Shame the questioner. ...
  4. Start with “No.” ...
  5. Ignore the question. ...
  6. Put them on the defensive. ...
  7. Use a canned answer. ...
  8. Give a general answer to a specific question.
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How do you politely not answer a personal question?

Ten strategies to avoid answering inappropriate questions
  1. Answer the original question with another question. ...
  2. Respond with sarcasm or a joke. ...
  3. Redirect the question to a topic that you do feel comfortable discussing. ...
  4. Use the shame game. ...
  5. Begin your answer by saying the word “No”
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What to say to avoid answering a question?

10 English Phrases to Avoid Answering a Question
  • #1 – No comment.
  • #2 – I'm not at liberty to say.
  • #3 – Wait and see.
  • #4 – Let me get back to you.
  • #5 – I'm sorry, that's confidential.
  • #6 – (Sorry) That's personal.
  • #7 – I'd rather not talk about it.
  • #8 – Mind your own business.
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How do you respond when someone asks your personal questions?

“Say, 'I appreciate that this is of interest but we don't feel sharing the information is appropriate, especially at this time. But I'd be glad to answer other questions if you have them,'” says Sullivan. “Appreciate the interest but draw lines.”
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How do you not ask a personal question?

17 Amazing Tricks for Dodging Unwanted Questions
  1. Enlist the help of a friend. ...
  2. Restate—and reframe—the question. ...
  3. Deflect with a joke. ...
  4. Offer advice instead of an answer. ...
  5. Deflect the question back to the asker with a compliment. ...
  6. Turn the tables. ...
  7. Address a related, but safer, personal topic.
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How to avoid answering questions - Speaking Skill



What do you say when you don't want to tell someone something personal?

Useful Expressions to Handle Uncomfortable Questions
  1. I'd rather not say.
  2. I'd prefer not to talk about that.
  3. I'd rather not get into [this topic] at this event.
  4. I'd prefer not to discuss this right now.
  5. I'm sorry, that's private.
  6. That's a little too personal.
  7. That topic is too difficult to discuss at this moment.
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How do you deflect nosy questions?

10 assertive tips on dealing with nosy questions
  1. Go with your gut. ...
  2. Don't be rude back. ...
  3. Use “I” statements. ...
  4. Find out more if appropriate. ...
  5. Say how you feel about being asked or about giving the information. ...
  6. Depersonalise your answer. ...
  7. Express your feelings if you want to. ...
  8. Move them on.
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What do you say when a coworker asks a personal question?

Be honest about how you feel

Honesty can be the best policy when it comes to uncomfortable personal questions in the workplace. Just come out and say you are not comfortable answering. Be direct but polite and friendly, then change the subject or ask your questioner something.
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How do you dodge a question?

The simplest approach to dodge the question is just to refuse to answer. You can give a straightforward refusal or to act as if no question was asked and continuing the conversation by talking about something else, or come up with straight lies. “I'm not going to answer that.”
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Is avoiding a question lying?

Liars and truth-tellers both have pauses in their speech, but good liars avoid answering questions, scientists say. DESPITE WHAT YOU MIGHT think, it is almost impossible to tell a liar from the way they talk, according a new study.
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What does deflect the question mean?

to avoid something such as criticism, blame, or a question being directed at you: The president deflected criticism of his economic record by focusing on crime. He successfully deflected blame for his mismanagement of the crisis. I just tried to deflect questions the best way I could.
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What does dodge question mean?

1 to avoid or attempt to avoid (a blow, discovery, etc.), as by moving suddenly. 2 to evade (questions, etc.) by cleverness or trickery.
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How do you set boundaries with a Nosey coworker?

How to Deal With Difficult & Nosy Coworkers
  1. Evaluate Objectively. ...
  2. Control Your Reaction. ...
  3. Anticipate Behaviors. ...
  4. Deflect the Conversation. ...
  5. Minimize Contact With Nosy Coworkers. ...
  6. Express Your Feelings. ...
  7. Escalate the Situation.
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Can your employer ask you personal questions?

As an employer, you are not allowed to ask about an individual's past or present personal health, including operations, hospital visits, or doctor's appointments. You also need to avoid any questions about mental health, disabilities, and anything else related to the mental and physical status of the employee.
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How do you deal with a nosy person?

Here are 9 ways to handle the unpleasant questions that invade your boundaries:
  1. Notice the cues that signal oncoming nosiness. ...
  2. Tell the truth. ...
  3. Decide what makes the question “nosy.” ...
  4. Keep the notion of "inclusive fitness" in mind. ...
  5. Practice a socially acceptable way to respond to common questions. ...
  6. Use deflection.
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How do you respond to unwanted opinions?

6 Polite and Effective Ways to Respond to Unwanted Advice
  1. "I'll think about that." ...
  2. "Good idea. ...
  3. "That's an interesting opinion, but I prefer to do it this way." ...
  4. "I'm not looking for any advice right now." ...
  5. "That's not actually in line with my values." ...
  6. "I'm not going to do that."
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How do you politely tell someone you don't want to talk?

When to be straight forward with someone you don't want to talk with anymore.
  1. I'm not free to talk right now. ...
  2. Hey, I can't talk today. ...
  3. I'm not interested in hanging out anymore. ...
  4. I'd prefer we meet next week. ...
  5. I just need some space and don't want to talk right now.
  6. I'm not free right now, let's talk later.
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How can you tell someone is private?

  1. advertise. verb. informal to tell people something that should be kept secret.
  2. betray. verb. if you betray a secret, you tell it to people who do not have the right to know it.
  3. blab. verb. ...
  4. blabber. verb. ...
  5. blow someone's cover. phrase. ...
  6. blow the gaff. phrase. ...
  7. blow the lid off something. phrase. ...
  8. broadcast. verb.
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What is it called when someone doesn't answer your question?

Question dodging is a rhetorical technique involving the intentional avoidance of answering a question.
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How do you politely tell someone they are overstepping?

Talk About Overstepping Boundaries

Remember to be polite, but stern, and use specific examples in your conversation so it's clear to the coworker what you're talking about. If possible, have this conversation while they are actually in the process of overstepping the boundaries.
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How do you say no to a pushy coworker?

Use these examples to politely say "no" to your employer and coworkers:
  1. "Unfortunately, I have too much to do today. ...
  2. "I'm flattered by your offer, but no thank you."
  3. "That sounds fun, but I have a lot going on at home."
  4. "I'm not comfortable doing that task. ...
  5. "Now isn't a good time for me.
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How can I be unbothered at work?

10 Ways to Get (and Stay) Happy at Work
  1. It's always your choice. ...
  2. Take charge of your own development. ...
  3. Don't be shy; ask for feedback. ...
  4. Gather your support system. ...
  5. Don't try to change others. ...
  6. Avoid negativity. ...
  7. Keep personal problems out of the workplace. ...
  8. Focus on the positive.
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What is an example of dodging?

Dodge is defined as to evade, twist or move out of the way to avoid being hit. An example of dodge is avoiding a question by changing the subject. An example of dodge is jumping out of the way of an oncoming bicycle. A cunning or deceitful act intended to evade something or trick someone.
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What does Wodge mean?

Definition of wodge

chiefly British. : a bulky mass or chunk : lump, wad.
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What does it mean when a person answers a question with a question?

This method of answering questions with questions, in order to let the questioner realize that he can find the answer by reasoning (Socrates would say that the answer was in him all along), is called maieutics (the related adjective being maieutic).
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