to sidestep the issue
1
6.0
- phrasal verb
:
evitar el tema
- Protheroe felt he was being drawn once again towards a choice between her and her father, and chose to sidestep the issue.
- tried to sidestep the issue
- sidestepped the most important issue
Examples
-
Chelle, you are sidestepping the issue.
Blog text (10) -
During the Clinton era, politicians sidestepped the issue and got votes by appealing to the "middle class."
Blog text (17) -
If recent practice by visiting U.S. officials is any guide, Obama will sidestep the issue by using neither name Monday when he becomes the first sitting American president to visit the country.
Blog text (20) -
Meanwhile, don't sidestep the issue by throwing out yet more non sequiturs.
Blog text (24) -
In his campaign, Heinrich advocated for the Dream Act, and at a debate in Las Cruces, he accused Wilson of sidestepping the issue.
Blog text (34) -
During the interview, the candidate sidestepped the issue of his previous job losses.
-
The politician skillfully sidestepped the issue when asked about the controversial law.
-
Rather than answering the question directly, she chose to sidestep the issue altogether.
Synonyms
119
4.7
To avoid dealing with a problem by using a different method
69
4.7
To ignore something wrong on purpose instead of reporting it
56
3.8
To avoid getting involved in an argument or fight
45
7.7
To avoid a rule or problem by using clever tricks
38
5.9
To ignore a small mistake to avoid an argument
31
3.9
To avoid doing something you should do, for example a duty or a direct question
25
5.3
To avoid answering a question or facing responsibility by giving unclear answers
23
8.9
To avoid something on purpose
22
6.5
Make a problem or mistake seem less serious by leaving out details
15
4.9
To avoid answering a question or dealing with a problem directly
13
4.5
Ignore a person or thing because you think they are not important
8
7.7
To hide a problem instead of dealing with it openly
6
5.2
To make people look at something else to avoid criticism
5
7.7
To avoid giving a clear answer or decision
5
7.7
To ignore a problem instead of dealing with it
1
7.0
Avoid facing a difficult subject directly
1
6.8
To avoid talking about a difficult subject by giving vague answers
1
6.8
To avoid talking about a controversial issue on purpose
To avoid answering a question directly by being unclear
To change the topic on purpose to avoid a subject
Treat a problem as less important to avoid dealing with it
To ignore or hide problems instead of dealing with them
Antonyms
How Direct
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'sidestep' means to dodge or evade and 'issue' means a subject or problem, so 'sidestep the issue' is directly and transparently interpreted as avoiding or dodging a topic. This compositional avoidance meaning is straightforward and common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will understand it.
Etymology
Sidestep the issue comes from the simple image of stepping to the side to avoid something, like a boxer moving away to avoid a punch. So when someone sidesteps a question, they are 'avoiding' it instead of answering.