Is there a specific term for passive aggressive questions?

My mother never asks a direct question. For example:

• Are you going downtown today?
• Yes, later this afternoon, why?
• Where will you be going?
• To the bank, why?
• So not to the grocery store or Walmart?
• No but I could, why?
• Oh, I just need some cream if you're able to pick me up some.
• Certainly, I can do that mom.

She's an 80 year old Google freak so I'd like to let her know her method of asking questions is not very effective by making a brief comment with a term she can look up. If I get too wordy or try to explain she tends to tune out.

Solution 1:

I wouldn't call those questions "passive-aggressive". I would say your mom beats around the bush instead of getting straight to the point.

beat around the bush - Approach indirectly, in a roundabout way, or too cautiously. For example, Stop beating around the bush-get to the point. This term, first recorded in 1572, originally may have alluded to beating the bushes for game.