skated around
Dodged the issue
To skate around something is to avoid dealing with it directly, moving past a difficult topic or obligation without engaging: The politician skated around the question about his finances.
The image is of gliding smoothly past an obstacle rather than confronting it.
She skated around the issue of her qualifications.
- ice rinkFrozen surface for skating
- thin icePrecarious situation
- sidesteppedAvoided by moving aside
- glidedMoved without apparent effort
- hedgedAvoided definite commitment
circumvented · glossed over · negotiated · deflected · dodged · swerved · skirted · avoided · evaded · finessed · changed the subject · circled · redirected · maneuvered · rephrased · parried · coasted · reframed
skated aroundconfronted
Challenged or opposed directly
took on · dealt with · faced · addressed · dug into
skated aroundowned up to
acknowledged · faced the music · shouldered · embraced · took on the chin
skated aroundstood up to
Confronted without retreating
stared down · leaned into · bit the bullet · grasped the nettle · took the bull by the horns