Clarifying: Avoid “What do you mean by…?”
When asking clarifying questions, the number one rule is don’t put the cognitive load on your interviewer.
Every time you want ot ask:
What do you mean by…
What does X mean …
Is this X or Y…
Stop yourself. Find a way to share your thought process and ask if you are in the right direction or if you missed something.
Start the conversation. Don’t make the interviewer start the conversation.