steer out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "steer out" is not commonly used in written English and may not be considered correct in standard contexts.
It could be used in a nautical context, referring to the act of steering a vessel out of a harbor or away from a specific location. Example: "The captain instructed the crew to steer out of the harbor as the storm approached."

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Ships had to steer out toward Hawaii, then aim far north of their California target and sail southward along the coast.

Stanford University

"I'm just trying to steer out and hopefully keep driving so I could get off the road so nothing worse would happen," Brand after practice yesterday, a few hours after the accident.

The New York Times - Sports

"I think politicians would be extremely well advised to steer out of allegations of political policing," he said.

BBC

Slamming the brakes may throw the car into a skid that would be difficult to steer out of with power steering and almost impossible to steer out of without it.

WikiHow

Witnesses reportedly told police that they saw the woman tearing along the eastbound lane of the suburban roadway, gripping the steering wheel, her face frozen in terror as she tried to steer out of traffic and away from pedestrians.

Los Angeles Times

I had a steer out on my farm in the Shenandoah reminded me of Dave Brower.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Orrall steered out of the driveway and headed toward the theatre.

The New Yorker

At law firms generally, Asians worry that they may be stereotyped as passive and are steered out of certain areas of practice, he said.

The New York Times

Two years later, Commander Folsom signed up with First Command and was steered out of his simple portfolio of savings bonds into the Fidelity Destiny II Fund, a contractual plan.

The New York Times

I will forget about suiting up – because my suit knows what it's doing – and being steered out to a bookshop reading that felt very much like an absurd opportunity to celebrate the accumulated failures of my life.

The Guardian - Books

Survivors of last week's disaster said they were robbed, forced onto dinghies at gunpoint and steered out into high winds and 20-foot seas.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing driving, use "steer out" to specifically convey avoiding an obstacle or regaining control after a skid.

Common error

Avoid using "steer out" in formal writing, as it may sound too informal. Opt for more precise and sophisticated verbs like "navigate" or "maneuver".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "steer out" functions primarily as a verb of motion, describing the act of maneuvering or guiding something (often a vehicle or vessel) away from a specific location or situation. Examples from Ludwig show its usage in contexts ranging from driving to sailing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

21%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

6%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "steer out" is a phrasal verb used to describe the act of maneuvering away from something, often to avoid a collision or escape a difficult situation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this term is considered acceptable. While generally neutral to informal in register, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. Alternatives like "navigate around" or "maneuver away from" may be more suitable for formal writing. Although common, careful consideration of the context is advised to ensure the most appropriate and precise verb choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maneuver away from

Replaces "steer" with a more general term for maneuvering, keeping the "out" to indicate direction.

navigate around

Similar to maneuvering, but emphasizes the act of finding a path around something.

guide clear of

Focuses on guiding something or someone to a safe distance from a potential hazard.

evade

A more concise term implying avoidance of something dangerous or undesirable.

avoid

A simple and direct synonym for preventing something from happening.

dodge

Implies a quick and sudden movement to avoid something.

deflect

Suggests turning something away from a course or target.

divert

Similar to deflect, but can also mean changing the course of something intentionally.

get out of the way

A more literal and less formal way of saying to avoid something.

extricate oneself from

Emphasizes the effort required to remove oneself from a difficult situation.

FAQs

How can I use "steer out" in a sentence?

You can use "steer out" to describe the act of maneuvering a vehicle or vessel to avoid an obstacle, as in "He managed to "steer out" of the skid".

What can I say instead of "steer out"?

Alternatives to "steer out" include "navigate around", "maneuver away from", or "evade", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "steer out of trouble"?

Yes, it is acceptable to say ""steer out" of trouble", but it's slightly informal. More formal options would be "avoid trouble" or "extricate oneself from trouble".

Which is the correct usage: "steer out" or "steer away"?

Both ""steer out"" and "steer away" are acceptable, but "steer out" often implies a more immediate or reactive maneuver, while "steer away" suggests a more deliberate change in direction.