shirk away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shirk away" can be used in written English and means to avoid a task or responsibility.
For example, "John shirked away from doing the dishes once again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I won't shirk away".

The Guardian - Sport

"We're a club, we're an industry, we're a code that doesn't shirk away from these sorts of incidents," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Smith said his hankering for creatures that others shirk away from propelled him to launch the magazine.

The New York Times

He is someone used to getting what he wants, and if he is finding that the politics of rugby in England are different to those in Australia, he will not shirk away from a contest.

The Guardian - Sport

I can't shirk away from that responsibility but now it is reflecting on the film and there is a danger that we will lose a lot of money and people will get hurt and that is very scary and very sad".

Independent

And great Hector of the shimmering helm answered her; "Surely, all these things concern me too, my wife; but greatly I would dread what they would think, the Trojans and the Trojan women with their trailing robes, if like a coward I should shirk away from fighting.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"I've never shirked away from a challenge and I'm not going to start now.

BBC

We're not shirking away from that one bit and we deserve the criticism which goes with not winning".

BBC

I no longer shirked away from contemplating death (thanks Epicurus) or morality (thanks Kant) or misfortune (thanks Epictetus).

Huffington Post

2. Use a wooden spoon and stir over a medium heat for around 20 -25 minutes while the polenta shirks away from the side of the pan.

Huffington Post

He stood by George W. Bush's war in Iraq, saying "he did his best," while shirking away from comparisons between that conflict and the first Gulf War led by his own administration in the early 1990s, during which Cheney was defense secretary.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shirk away" when you want to emphasize not just avoiding a duty, but also distancing oneself from it. This implies a deliberate effort to remain uninvolved.

Common error

Avoid using "shirk away" when a simple oversight or unintentional neglect is involved. "Shirk away" suggests a conscious decision to evade responsibility, not just a failure to act.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shirk away" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating the action of avoiding or neglecting a duty, responsibility, or task. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

8%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shirk away" is a verb phrase used to describe the act of avoiding a responsibility or duty. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides examples primarily from news and media sources, indicating a neutral register. While it's not the most common phrase, it effectively conveys the idea of deliberate evasion, making it suitable for various contexts where one wants to express disapproval of someone avoiding what they should be doing. Alternative phrases, like "evade responsibility", offer subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evade responsibility

Focuses on avoiding the obligation itself.

duck responsibility

Similar to dodging, implying a swift movement to avoid accountability.

dodge the task

Implies a quick or skillful avoidance of a specific task.

avoid duty

Highlights the avoidance of a formal or moral obligation.

neglect obligation

Stresses a failure to properly care for or attend to a responsibility.

escape the duty

Focuses on getting free from an unpleasant or onerous duty.

sidestep the issue

Suggests skillfully avoiding a problem or difficult question, not necessarily a duty.

bypass commitment

Indicates that they go around commitment.

abandon responsibility

Highlights the action of giving up a task.

decline to undertake

Stresses a formal or explicit refusal to take on a responsibility or task.

FAQs

How can I use "shirk away" in a sentence?

You can use "shirk away" to describe someone avoiding a responsibility, for example: "The politician refused to "shirk away" from the difficult questions during the interview".

What does "shirk away" mean?

"Shirk away" means to avoid or neglect a duty or responsibility, often deliberately.

What's a good alternative to "shirk away"?

Alternatives to "shirk away" include "evade responsibility", "dodge the task", or "avoid duty" depending on the context.

Is "shirk away" formal or informal?

"Shirk away" is generally considered neutral in formality, suitable for both news reports and casual conversations. However, more formal alternatives exist if needed for professional settings.