skirting around

USAGE SUMMARY

"skirting around" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate avoiding or sidestepping something - usually when it is difficult to directly confront or address the issue. For example: "Instead of addressing the issues honestly with his team, the manager resorted to skirting around the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's a piece of ineffable eccentricity, baffling and skirting around brilliance.

The Guardian

This time around, as Wilkinson put it, his daily and apparently changeable dialogue indicated that the Bank of Japan would in fact intervene if the currency volatility Fujii's been skirting around became 'biased'biased

Forbes

"It's like we're at a funeral for the media!" jokes McGrath Morris as the discussion ends, acknowledging the issue we'd been skirting around, not through fear, but through weariness.

Huffington Post

Skirting around or not fully committing to an argument lessens your ability to appear credible.

WikiHow

We were skirting around it.

The Guardian - Music

Don't attempt to hide it by skirting around it.

The New York Times

But even this is skirting around the biggest issue.

The Guardian - Opinion

Determined users in China, though, will always find ways of skirting around controls.

The Economist

Meanwhile, Mr Brown was trumpeting the economy's many successes while skirting around his fiscal failings.

The Economist

"This is the great issue of our time and we are skirting around it.

The Guardian

We recover somehow and have a slightly awkward chat about work and skirting around the events of the weekend.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "skirting around" when you want to describe the act of avoiding a topic, issue, or question without directly addressing it. It implies a deliberate attempt to not confront something head-on.

Common error

Avoid using "skirting around" to describe literal, physical movement around an object. The phrase is primarily used metaphorically to describe avoidance of a topic or issue.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "skirting around" functions as an idiomatic expression to describe the avoidance of a topic, issue, or person. As Ludwig AI confirms, it implies an intention to not directly confront something. The examples show its versatile use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

14%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "skirting around" is a commonly used phrasal verb that describes the act of avoiding a topic or issue, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically sound and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. Alternatives like "avoiding" or "sidestepping" offer similar meanings with subtle differences. When using "skirting around", ensure it's in a metaphorical context, not literal physical movement. Remember, this expression is valuable when you need to imply indirectness and strategic avoidance in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avoiding

Focuses on the act of keeping away from something.

sidestepping

Indicates moving to the side to avoid a direct confrontation or topic.

evading

Suggests skillfully escaping or avoiding something, often a responsibility or question.

dodging

Implies a quick, evasive movement to avoid something, like a question or responsibility.

steering clear of

Means avoiding something or someone, often because of potential danger or unpleasantness.

circumventing

Suggests finding a way around an obstacle or rule.

glossing over

Suggests treating something lightly or superficially to avoid a deeper examination.

dancing around

Implies moving about a topic without directly addressing it.

hedging

Implies limiting or qualifying a statement to avoid commitment or risk.

beating around the bush

Indicates talking about something without coming to the point.

FAQs

How can I use "skirting around" in a sentence?

You can use "skirting around" to describe avoiding a topic, as in "The politician was "skirting around" the controversial issue during the interview."

What's the difference between "skirting around" and "avoiding"?

"Skirting around" implies a more deliberate and perhaps less obvious form of "avoiding". It suggests moving indirectly around a topic rather than directly avoiding it.

What can I say instead of "skirting around"?

You can use alternatives like "evading", "sidestepping", or "beating around the bush" depending on the context.

Is "skirting around" considered formal or informal language?

"Skirting around" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in news and general conversation than in highly academic writing.