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sidestep

[/ˈsaɪdstɛp/]
verb/nounpl: sidesteps
contornar, desviar, esquivar
1. (verb) To step to the side to avoid something or someone
He sidestepped the falling branch.
Ele se desviou do ramo que caía.
2. (verb) To avoid dealing with an issue, question, or responsibility
The politician sidestepped the difficult question during the interview.
O político contornou a pergunta difícil durante a entrevista.
3. (noun) A lateral step taken to avoid something
With a quick sidestep, the boxer avoided the punch.
Com um rápido desvio lateral, o boxeador evitou o golpe.
NYC Slang
dodge, duck, or evade (similar usage but less formal)
Synonyms
dodgeevadeavoidcircumventskirtelude
Antonyms
confrontfaceaddresstackleengage

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
desviar-se, contornar, esquivar
Standard usage across Brazil
São Paulo
se tirar do caminho
Colloquial variant meaning to get out of the way
Portugal
contornar, desviar-se, evitar
Standard usage, slightly more formal than Brazilian

Related Idioms & Phrases

sidestep the issue
sidestep responsibility
sidestep a question
sidestep the main point
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