skirting around
Steering clear of
Skirting around means avoiding something by going along its edges rather than through it.
Literally, you might skirt around a puddle or obstacle.
Figuratively, it means evading a topic or issue rather than addressing it directly: He kept skirting around the question of money.
The "around" is often redundant but emphasizes the evasive quality.
- deflectionChange in trajectory
- circumnavigationComplete journey around something
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- side steppingLateral movement to avoid
edging · circumventing · subtlety · dodging · eluding · flanking · equivocation · hedging one's bets · tiptoeing · walking on eggshells · veering · detouring · ambiguity · tact · glossing over · insinuation · orbiting · euphemism
skirting aroundconfronting
Addressing directly
tackling · getting to the point · cutting to the chase · broaching · taking on
skirting aroundgoing through
Experiencing or traversing
cutting through · passing through · traversing · plowing through · crossing