Learn English – Idiom: A person who is unfolding truth, changing statements during the conversation

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I was talking to my team member on an issue. He was putting in new statements every time I countered his previous statement.

I think I can't use "truth" for these statements because when I countered, then the previous and current statements were contradictory. "After-thoughts" would be right, maybe.

Our conversation looks like you keep peeling the onion to reach a core of onion (i.e., truth).

Example:

Me: Why you didn't do Task1

TM: I wasn't at my desk

Me: But you sent one email to 'X' where in I'm also in CC

TM: Because I need some more info on Task 1

Me: Then why are you telling me now?

TM: I got stuck in Fun-Friday activities in office

Is there an idiom/phrase for this situation?

Best Answer

You could say that your team member is dancing around the issue:

Dance around (the issue)

  • To improvise, tergiversate, etc, in order to avoid a question or issue.

Larson dances around the real issue of gun control.

(Dictionary.com)

To dance around the issue would be your team member coming up with different responses, that may or may not fit the question, just to avoid telling the truth.