steer clear

present singular third person steers clear · participle present steering clear · participle past steered clear · past steered clear · alternative stay clear

1. figurativelyintransitiveoftenTo avoid; to dodge; to sidestep.

   I always told Sir John to steer clear of too much journalizing.

   1835, James Fenimore Cooper, The Monikins, Introduction

   4 more examples

   Foreign youth steer clear of the gymnasium; its rules are too severe.

   1880, Mark Twain, chapter 4, in A Tramp Abroad

   "You steer clear of that rascally teacher and young Merwell," advised Dave's father. "They are a bad lot." "I'll steer clear if I can," answered Dave.

   1914, Edward Stratemeyer, chapter 10, in Dave Porter in the Gold Fields

   But unless you are also philosophical and like to listen to a lot of dialogue—or, worse yet, read reams of subtitles—I think you'd be wise to steer clear.

   1964 January 28, Bosley Crowther, “Movie Review: The Seventh Juror (1962)”, in New York Times, retrieved 15 Jan 2014

   If you think you can steer clear of government surveillance by staying off-line, think again.

   2013, “Surveillance State: Three Ways You're Being Watched”, in BloombergBusinessweek Videos, retrieved 15 Jan 2014