steer clear

• stay clear

steer clear (third-person singular simple present steers clear, present participle steering clear, simple past and past participle steered clear)

1. (figuratively, intransitive, often followed by of) To avoid; to dodge; to sidestep.
   • 1835, James Fenimore Cooper, The Monikins, Introduction:

     I always told Sir John to steer clear of too much journalizing.

   • 1880, Mark Twain, A Tramp Abroad, ch. 4:

     Foreign youth steer clear of the gymnasium; its rules are too severe.

   • 1914, Edward Stratemeyer, Dave Porter in the Gold Fields, ch. 10:

     "You steer clear of that rascally teacher and young Merwell," advised Dave's father. "They are a bad lot."

     "I'll steer clear if I can," answered Dave.

   • 1964 Jan. 28, Bosley Crowther, "Movie Review: The Seventh Juror (1962)," New York Times (retrieved 15 Jan 2014):

     But unless you are also philosophical and like to listen to a lot of dialogue—or, worse yet, read reams of subtitles—I think you'd be wise to steer clear.

   • 2013, "Surveillance State: Three Ways You're Being Watched," BloombergBusinessweek Videos (retrieved 15 Jan 2014):

     If you think you can steer clear of government surveillance by staying off-line, think again.