skirt around
To go around something instead of through it, or to avoid talking about something important.
Meanings
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."
To deliberately avoid discussing or directly addressing a sensitive or difficult topic.
"The politician kept skirting around the question about tax increases."
To narrowly avoid a dangerous or problematic situation.
"The company managed to skirt around a potential lawsuit by settling out of court."
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.
Commonly used with
Forms
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