keep one's head down
skate over
end run
toe-dance
inconspicuously
deke
draw a veil over
play it straight
fight shy of
shy away from
distractionism
catch someone napping
avoidant
kick into touch
get in someone's hair
deter
guard against
nonconfrontation
guard
let-out
red herring
shy
beat around the bush
refrain
nonconfronter
put by
tread lightly
flinch
preventive
sidetrack
stick to one's text
avoiding
avoidment
skirt
put a damper on
change the subject
stick to business
go around
skulk
bypass
get around
short-circuit
head off
skive
wear
tactfulness
dodge
get off of someone's cloud
back away
preoccupy