sidestep

plural sidesteps

1. A step to the side.
2. A physical motion or metaphorical act to avoid or dodge something.

present singular third person sidesteps · participle present sidestepping · participle past sidestepped · past sidestepped

1. intransitiveTo step to the side.

   I […] knocked and waited. […] He sidestepped, and I went in.

   1955 October, Rex Stout, “Die Like a Dog”, in Three Witnesses, Bantam, published 1994, →ISBN, page 180

   1 more example

   Kilmarnock ought to have taken the lead on the stroke of half-time when Hefferman set up Kroca and, although the defender neatly sidestepped his marker, he fired straight into the chest of Enckelman.

   2011 October 1, Clive Lindsay, “Kilmarnock 1 - 2 St Johnstone”, in BBC Sport

2. figurativelytransitiveTo avoid or dodge.

   They sidestepped the issue.

   2 more examples

   It was noticeable that he sidestepped questions about continuation south of Crewe, on the grounds that he must await the report of Sir Ivan Stedeford's Advisory Group.

   1960 November 28, “Talking of Trains: That engine change at Crewe”, in Trains Illustrated, page 641

   Adams repeatedly sidestepped questions about whether the Justice Department is taking specific steps to seize assets belonging to Putin but suggested that prosecutors have mapped out how the Russian President and wealthy kleptocrats are attempting to hide their money.

   2022 May 5, Kara Scannell and Zachary Cohen, “DOJ unwinds complex web in hunt for Russian wealth belonging to Putin and influential players”, in CNN