skirt around

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To circumvent, to bypass, to go around in order to avoid.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Yet the reality in Japan was far more gruesome than the artful depiction in the film, which skirts around the human suffering caused by the bomb.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “skirt around” mean?

To circumvent, to bypass, to go around in order to avoid.

Is “skirt around” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.