avoid duty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid duty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of evading responsibilities or obligations. Example: "He always tries to find a way to avoid duty when it comes to household chores."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

He e-mailed asking me to resend it with papers claiming a lower value to help him avoid duty fees.

The New York Times - Magazine

The Government last week moved to clamp down on a tax loophole under which "non-domiciled" residents (non-doms) with split employment contracts could avoid duty by putting their earnings through low-tax foreign jurisdictions.

Independent

Free-trade agreements: By operating factories and supplier networks inside free-trade regions, companies avoid duty and long distance transportation costs for both the finished product and its components.

Yale University

As a junior officer he transferred to the 41st Regiment soon after to avoid duty in the East Indies, and in June 1789 transferred again, to the 12th (Prince of Wales's) Light Dragoons cavalry regiment.

Wikipedia

These products are cheap, as they avoid duty, and highly concentrated, at up to 95% ethanol [ 39].

Globalization and Health

You can save up to 50% off rooms this way, which is a fantastic deal". 5. Avoid duty and tax fees at the airport "I recently bought a blender for my mom for her birthday and had to carry it with me all the way from Australia to South Africa.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The bribes went to extend drilling contracts for offshore rigs in Venezuela, to settle a customs dispute in India and to avoid duties on drilling equipment in Mexico.

The New York Times

Since the colonial era, contraband trade has been significant in Panama among those wishing to avoid duties or other government controls.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Father Fay learned he had prostate cancer, but Ms. Patafio and other parishioners said he cited problems from the cancer to avoid duties he disliked.

The New York Times

Much of the money is widely thought to have come from Russian trading companies that were trying to avoid duties and taxes or from rich Russians, many of whom have fled to Switzerland after the Soviet Union collapsed, to avoid taxation.

The New York Times

The best offer so far is that, maybe, western companies will be allowed to avoid duties if they donate the goods in question to charities (including those favoured by the government, of course).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "avoid duty" in your writing, ensure the context clearly indicates what specific obligation or responsibility is being evaded. For example, specify "avoid jury duty" or "avoid military duty".

Common error

Avoid using "avoid duty" in overly general contexts. It's more effective when referring to a concrete responsibility rather than a vague sense of obligation. Instead of saying "He tried to avoid duty in life", be specific: "He tried to "avoid responsibility" in his relationships".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid duty" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "avoid" is the main verb and "duty" is its direct object. It signifies the act of evading or escaping a responsibility or obligation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "avoid duty" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that accurately describes the act of evading a responsibility or obligation. Ludwig AI indicates that it appears most often in News & Media and Academic contexts. To use it effectively, specify the type of "duty" being avoided for clarity and consider related phrases like "shirk responsibility" or "evade responsibility" for nuanced meaning. While it can be used legitimately, be aware that it sometimes carries a negative connotation, suggesting a failure to meet one's obligations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shirk responsibility

Emphasizes neglecting or evading a responsibility, often implying a moral failing.

evade responsibility

Focuses on skillfully escaping or dodging a responsibility.

dodge obligation

Suggests a quick or cunning way of avoiding an obligation.

escape obligation

Highlights breaking free from an obligation, often suggesting difficulty.

side-step commitment

Implies skillfully avoiding a commitment without directly refusing it.

neglect obligation

Points to a failure to fulfill an obligation through carelessness or indifference.

circumvent obligation

Implies using clever strategies to bypass or avoid an obligation.

bypass requirement

Focuses on skipping or going around a specific requirement.

skirt responsibility

Suggests moving along the edge of a responsibility without fully engaging with it.

deflect responsibility

Highlights redirecting responsibility to someone or something else.

FAQs

How can I use "avoid duty" in a sentence?

You can use "avoid duty" to describe someone evading a responsibility or obligation. For example: "He transferred to a different regiment to "avoid duty" in the East Indies". Or, "Companies operate factories inside free-trade regions to "avoid duty" and transportation costs".

What's the difference between "avoid duty" and "evade duty"?

While both phrases imply escaping a responsibility, "avoid duty" suggests a broader range of methods, from legitimate to illicit. "Evade duty" often implies skillful or cunning maneuvers to escape obligations, potentially hinting at dishonesty or illegality.

What can I say instead of "avoid duty" when referring to taxes?

In the context of taxes, you could use phrases like "minimize taxes", "reduce tax burden", or, if the actions are illegal, "evade taxes" or "commit tax evasion".

Is it always negative to "avoid duty"?

Not necessarily. While often implying shirking responsibility, "avoid duty" can sometimes describe a strategic decision to decline a task that is not essential or aligned with one's priorities. The negativity depends on the specific context and the nature of the "duty" itself.