soslayar

to sidestep

verb sohs-lah-YAHR Rare

Also means

to evade

Usage Note

Soslayar means to avoid or get around a difficulty, question, or obstacle — often with a connotation of doing so obliquely rather than head-on. The related phrase de soslayo means 'sideways' or 'askance' (mirar de soslayo, to look out of the corner of one's eye). It is a formal verb; in everyday speech evitar or esquivar are more common.

Examples

"El político intentó soslayar la pregunta comprometida."

Natural Translation

The politician tried to sidestep the awkward question.

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