steering clear

Meanings

1. 1phrasephrasal verb

   Deliberately keeping away from someone or something that could cause you trouble or harm.

   Grammar: Needs of before the thing avoided: steering clear of sugar.

   Patterns

   • steer clear of someone
   • steer clear of something

   I am steering clear of the office gossip this week.

   Doctors advise steering clear of salty snacks.

   Anna is steering clear of her ex at the party.

2. 2phrasephrasal verb

   Moving a boat or vehicle so that it passes safely away from something dangerous.

   Grammar: Literal, with of: steering clear of rocks.

   Patterns

   • steer clear of something

   The captain was steering clear of the rocks near the shore.

   Cyclists were steering clear of the slippery tram tracks.

   The pilot kept steering clear of the storm cloud.

Word forms

Common combinations

steering clear of trouble

He is steering clear of trouble these days.

steering clear of the subject

We are steering clear of politics at dinner.

steering clear of conflict

She kept steering clear of conflict at work.

steering well clear

Everyone was steering well clear of the angry dog.

Synonyms and how they differ

avoiding

Avoiding is the plain general word, while steering clear adds the sense of actively going around a known danger.

keeping away from

Keeping away from is physical or social distance, and steering clear can also mean choosing not to discuss or do something.

dodging

Dodging suggests escaping a duty or question cleverly, which is more evasive than steering clear.

Opposites

Word family

steer verb

to guide a vehicle or a situation

steering noun

the system or act of guiding a vehicle

clear adjective

free from obstacles

Commonly confused: steering clear or steering committee?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “steering clear”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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