make lame excuses, prevaricate, tell a tale, divert other's attention,instigate a conflict, maintain one's dignity or fame

succeed, prosper, flourish

turn into statue, become rigid or speechless as statue

prevaricate, talk deceptively, quibble, flatter

make a mountain out of a molehill, amplify an issue, make much of very little, exaggerate, overstate, enlarge on

wheedle, flatter, coax, cajole

prevaricate