side ‧ step /ˈsaɪdstep/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle sidestepped , present participle sidestepping )
1 . sidestep a problem/issue/question to avoid dealing with something difficult:
The report sidesteps the environmental issues.
2 . [intransitive and transitive] to step quickly sideways to avoid being hit or walking into someone
—sidestep noun [countable]