GRE "H" Flashcards
(1 cards)
Hedge
If you are really into horticulture—which is a fancy word for gardening—you’ll know hedges are shrubs, or small bushes that have been neatly trimmed. If you know your finance, then you’ve probably heard of hedge funds (where brokers make their money betting against the market). Hedge can also be used in a verb sense. If you hedge your bets, you play safely. If you hedge a statement, you limit or qualify that statement. Finally, hedge can also mean to avoid making a direct statement, as in equivocating.
To avoid making a direct statement or commitment, often by being deliberately vague or ambiguous.
It can also mean to protect oneself against loss or risk (original meaning from finance or gardening).
When asked why he had decided to buy millions of shares at the very moment the tech companies stock soared, the CEO hedged, mentioning something vague about gut instinct.
🔹 The politician hedged when asked about his stance on the controversial issue.
🔹 She hedged her bets by investing in both stocks and bonds.
🔹 Instead of a clear yes or no, he hedged his response with vague language.
