sidestep a difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sidestep a difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to avoiding or circumventing a problem or challenge. Example: "In order to meet the deadline, we had to sidestep a difficulty by reallocating resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

There is a way to sidestep this difficulty by using an object called a distribution.

The Guardian

To sidestep this difficulty, an alternative approach combines weighted kernels with SVMs [19] [22]; this approach assigns a weight to each variable to indicate its relevance.

Plosone

The professors largely sidestep this difficulty.

The New York Times

Sean Raymond, now at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and his colleagues sidestep this difficulty by performing multiple simulations of planet formation in four solar systems known to contain gas-giant planets similar to Jupiter.

Nature

But some foresee a difficulty.

The Economist

But there's a difficulty.

The New York Times

But it is a difficulty.

Independent

But there is a difficulty.

The Economist

Here there is a difficulty.

The Economist

This interpretation seems to sidestep the difficulty.

SEP

Roumeliotis hopes to sidestep the difficulty of acquiring customers by working through phone providers that are already giving businesses a phone number.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sidestep a difficulty" when you want to emphasize a clever or strategic way of avoiding a problem, rather than directly confronting it. This implies a level of finesse and awareness.

Common error

While "sidestep a difficulty" is a valid expression, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "avoid a problem" or "circumvent an obstacle" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sidestep a difficulty" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action taken to avoid or circumvent a problem. It suggests a strategic maneuver to bypass an obstacle, as supported by the examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sidestep a difficulty" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, indicating a strategic avoidance of a problem. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, while examples show its presence in news and scientific contexts. Though relatively rare, it's a useful phrase for describing clever or strategic problem-solving. Alternatives include "avoid a problem" or "circumvent an obstacle". Remember to use it judiciously and consider synonyms to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Sidestep an issue

Keeps the "sidestep" metaphor but replaces "difficulty" with "issue."

Avoid a problem

Focuses directly on avoiding the issue, omitting the sense of skillful maneuvering.

Circumvent an obstacle

Emphasizes going around the obstacle, implying strategic planning.

Bypass a challenge

Suggests ignoring the challenge and moving forward.

Evade a complication

Implies escaping or dodging a developing issue.

Navigate around a problem

Highlights the process of finding a path to avoid the issue.

Skirt a difficulty

Suggests narrowly avoiding the difficulty.

Steer clear of a complication

Indicates intentionally avoiding the complication.

Dodge a problem

Conveys a sense of quick movement to avoid the problem.

Circumnavigate a challenge

Emphasizes a more elaborate and potentially lengthy route around the challenge.

FAQs

How can I use "sidestep a difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "sidestep a difficulty" to describe a clever or strategic way to avoid a problem. For example, "To complete the project on time, we needed to "sidestep a difficulty" by reallocating resources."

What are some alternatives to "sidestep a difficulty"?

Some alternatives to "sidestep a difficulty" include "avoid a problem", "circumvent an obstacle", or "bypass a challenge". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to "sidestep a difficulty" or "face a difficulty"?

Whether to "sidestep a difficulty" or "face a difficulty" depends on the situation. Sidestepping is useful when direct confrontation is impractical or inefficient. Facing the difficulty is necessary when it cannot be avoided.

What's the difference between "sidestep a difficulty" and "solve a difficulty"?

"Sidestep a difficulty" means avoiding the problem altogether, while "solve a difficulty" means finding a solution to overcome it. They represent different approaches to handling problems.