Category:Slippery language

These are phrases or individual words with multiple meanings or implications, also known as semantic chameleons.

By presuming a different meaning or implication for any of these words than the one intended by the speaker, the meaning of their entire argument can be changed. If the speaker is unaware of the "slipperiness", they may not realize you have done this, and may unnecessarily concede that s/he is being inconsistent or unfair in her/his argument. This is a form of shifting the topic.