sidestep

From side +‎ step.

sidestep (plural sidesteps)

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

sidestep (third-person singular simple present sidesteps, present participle sidestepping, simple past and past participle sidestepped)

1. (intransitive) To step to the side.
   • 1955 October, Rex Stout, “Die Like a Dog”, in Three Witnesses, Bantam, published 1994, →ISBN, page 180:

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

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

     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.

2. (transitive, figurative) To avoid or dodge.

   They sidestepped the issue.

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

     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.

• despites, seed pits, stepside