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