sidestep accountability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sidestep accountability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions or behaviors that avoid taking responsibility for one's actions or decisions. Example: "In an attempt to sidestep accountability, the manager shifted the blame onto his team for the project's failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This mind-set lets government and business sidestep accountability to clean up their own food safety policies.

The New York Times - Food

Americans are proud to be a society that lives under the rule of law, but our post-9/11 detention facilities were created specifically to sidestep accountability for prisoner abuse under any law, United States or international.

The New York Times

I have not checked Drudge today, but last I heard, Congress was trying to sidestep accountability for torture, not pass laws against John Ziegler's outbursts.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Notice the chutzpah of sidestepping any accountability for the last eight years.

Huffington Post

And the Goldman deal sidesteps the very public accountability that might encourage Facebook to make the changes it needs.

Huffington Post

"Democracy and accountability will be sidestepped if this bill is rushed through and amended without debate during the so-called 'wash-up' process.

The Guardian - Tech

It gives the secretary of state extraordinary powers to enable providers to sidestep children's legal rights, he argues, without parliamentary scrutiny or accountability.

The Guardian

One thing union members are asking is for Congress to amend the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, so that law enforcement would be able to sidestep medical privacy regulations and find out when they receive a 9/11 call whether a particular individual has a history of mental health issues.

Vice

In an attempt to sidestep it, Wiley set up a non-profit organisation, initially called the Syrian Commission for Justice and Accountability, before it was renamed as the CIJA in 2013.

The Guardian

Take accountability.

The Economist

Individual accountability.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sidestep accountability" when you want to emphasize the act of skillfully avoiding responsibility, often implying a degree of cunning or strategic maneuvering.

Common error

Avoid using "sidestep accountability" when the failure to take responsibility is due to ignorance or unintentional oversight. The phrase implies a deliberate attempt to avoid being held responsible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sidestep accountability" functions as a verb phrase that describes the action of avoiding responsibility. It's often used when someone is trying to evade blame or consequences for their actions, as suggested by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sidestep accountability" is used to describe actions taken to avoid responsibility, as demonstrated by Ludwig. While grammatically correct and understandable, its frequency is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. Alternatives such as "evade responsibility" or "avoid accountability" offer similar meanings. It is important to use this phrase when there is a clear, deliberate intention to avoid being held responsible, and it should not be confused with unintentional oversight.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evade responsibility

This alternative directly implies avoiding the duty to answer for one's actions.

avoid accountability

Similar to the original phrase, but uses "avoid" instead of "sidestep", emphasizing the act of keeping away from accountability.

shirk responsibility

Suggests a deliberate neglect or abandonment of duties.

dodge the blame

Focuses on avoiding being blamed for something, rather than the broader concept of accountability.

escape liability

Specifically refers to avoiding legal or financial responsibility.

circumvent responsibility

This suggests using clever or indirect means to avoid responsibility.

duck accountability

An informal way to describe quickly avoiding being held accountable.

pass the buck

An idiomatic expression meaning to shift responsibility to someone else.

shift the blame

Implies redirecting blame onto another party.

weasel out of responsibility

Suggests using deceitful or underhanded tactics to escape responsibility.

FAQs

What does "sidestep accountability" mean?

To "sidestep accountability" means to avoid taking responsibility for one's actions, often through clever or strategic means. It implies a deliberate attempt to evade being held accountable.

What can I say instead of "sidestep accountability"?

You can use alternatives like "evade responsibility", "avoid accountability", or "shirk responsibility" depending on the context.

How do I use "sidestep accountability" in a sentence?

You can use "sidestep accountability" in sentences like: "The company tried to sidestep accountability for the environmental damage." or "The politician was accused of trying to sidestep accountability for the scandal."

What's the difference between "sidestep accountability" and "accept responsibility"?

"Sidestep accountability" implies avoiding responsibility, while "accept responsibility" means acknowledging and taking ownership of one's actions and their consequences.