hedge
ostracize
ostracise
bite one's lip
bite one's tongue
keep at arm's length
dissuade
avoid
mince words
skate over
leave alone
mime
wave away
bear off
gag
spit it out
forbear
pantomime
draw a veil over
skulk
keep it together
offhold
cede the field
keep away from
get off of someone's cloud
hold one's tongue
bagsy
talk one's way out of
keep one's hands to oneself
opt out
argue round and round
help
let go
discourage
walk back
get off
soft-pedal
save one's breath to cool one's porridge
bottle it
deflect
detain
eschew
deter
abandon
umbeschew
give up
reprove
put up or shut up
curve
talk someone out of something