Explanation of "Skate Over"
Definition: The phrase "skate over" means to quickly or casually deal with a topic or issue without giving it the attention or detail it deserves. It often implies that someone is avoiding a serious discussion or not addressing important information.
Examples:
"During the meeting, she skated over the budget problems instead of discussing them in detail."
"He tends to skate over his mistakes instead of learning from them."
Advanced Usage:
In more formal settings, you might say someone "skated over" a critical issue to imply that they were being evasive or unprofessional.
Word Variants:
Skating (noun): The act of moving smoothly over a surface, but in this context, it refers more to the concept of moving quickly over something.
Skated (past tense): Referring to something that was previously addressed in a superficial manner.
Different Meanings:
While "skate over" primarily means to avoid detail, the word "skate" on its own can also refer to a type of fish or to the activity of gliding on ice or a smooth surface using skates.
Synonyms:
Glide over
Brush aside
Pass over
Bypass
Ignore
Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
"Brush off": To dismiss something as unimportant, similar to "skating over" it.
"Sweep under the rug": To hide or ignore a problem instead of addressing it directly.
"Pass the buck": To avoid responsibility by transferring it to someone else, which is somewhat related to avoiding a topic.
Conclusion:
"Skate over" is a useful phrase when talking about situations where important topics are not fully discussed.