sidestep

sidestep — 動詞

  • sidesteppresent simple I / you / we / they
  • sidestepshe / she / it
  • sidesteppedpast simple
  • sidestepping-ing form

1. to move one foot to the side and shift your body so that something coming toward

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

閃避；側步

向旁邊跨步以避開

to move one foot to the side and shift your body so that something coming toward you, such as a ball, a person, or a vehicle, passes without hitting you.

例句

When the cyclist swerved toward the pavement, Lin sidestepped onto the grass to avoid a collision.

當自行車突然轉向人行道時，Lin 迅速側步踏到草地上，避免了一場碰撞。

intransitive: sidestep + preposition phrase

The boxer sidestepped his opponent's jab and immediately threw a right cross.

那名拳擊手側步閃過對手的刺拳，隨即以一記右拳反擊。

transitive: sidestep + direct object

同義詞
  • dodge

    more sudden and can involve ducking down, not just stepping sideways

  • avoid

    broader meaning, does not specify the sideways movement

  • step aside

    phrasal verb; can be used figuratively as well

反義詞
  • face

    to confront something head-on instead of moving away

文法句型

sidestep + noun phrase (thing avoided)

sidestep (no object)

sidestep + adverb/preposition

用法筆記

When transitive, the object is the thing being avoided (a punch, a ball, a person). When intransitive, a prepositional phrase (onto the grass, out of the way) often follows to show the direction.

常見錯誤

❌He sidestepped from the incoming car.
✅He sidestepped the incoming car.
💡'sidestep' already includes the sideways movement; just name the thing avoided as the direct object.

2. to deliberately avoid answering a difficult question or dealing with a problem,

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

迴避；閃躲

避開問題或責任

to deliberately avoid answering a difficult question or dealing with a problem, often by changing the subject or giving a vague reply.

例句

When a reporter asked about the missing funds, the mayor sidestepped the question by praising recent projects.

當記者問起資金去向不明的事，市長迴避了問題，轉而讚揚最近的建設成果。

collocation: sidestep + question

The company's statement sidestepped the issue of falling profits and focused on growth plans instead.

該公司的聲明迴避了利潤下滑的問題，反而著重談論未來的成長計畫。

同義詞
  • evade

    slightly more formal; can imply guilty intent

  • dodge

    more informal; also means physically move aside

  • circumvent

    more formal; suggests finding a clever way around a rule or obstacle

反義詞
  • address

    to deal with a question or problem directly

  • confront

    to face something difficult instead of avoiding it

文法句型

sidestep + question/issue/problem/responsibility

用法筆記

Common with political or workplace discussion. The object is usually an abstract noun: question, issue, problem, topic, responsibility, duty. Unlike 'avoid', 'sidestep' implies a clever or deliberate redirection rather than simple inaction.

常見錯誤

❌He sidestepped the car accident.' (physical)
✅He sidestepped the question about the car accident.
💡for physical objects, use sense 1. For topics and questions, use sense 2.
❌I sidestepped to go to the store.
✅I decided not to go to the store.
💡'sidestep' is about avoiding something, not about choosing a different option.

sidestep — 名詞