1 B1 neutral
To move around the edge or border of a place rather than going directly through it.
"The hikers skirted around the swamp to avoid getting their boots wet."
inseparable
skirt around
B2 neutral inseparable transitive
To go around the edge of something, or to avoid addressing a topic directly.
In plain English
To go around something instead of through it, or to avoid talking about something important.
What does "skirt around" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To deliberately avoid discussing or directly addressing a sensitive or difficult topic.
"The politician kept skirting around the question about tax increases."
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To narrowly avoid a dangerous or problematic situation.
"The company managed to skirt around a potential lawsuit by settling out of court."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To travel along the skirt (outer edge or border) of something, going around rather than through.
Actually means
To go around something instead of through it, or to avoid talking about something important.
Usage tip
Used both literally (physical movement) and figuratively (avoiding a topic). The figurative sense is more common in modern usage, especially in formal writing and political commentary. Also appears as 'skirt round' in British English.
Words that pair with "skirt around"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
issue question problem topic edge truth
How to conjugate "skirt around"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
skirt around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
skirts around
he/she/it
Past simple
skirted around
yesterday
Past participle
skirted around
have + pp
-ing form
skirting around
continuous
Hear "skirt around" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "skirt around" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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