deflect

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Pronunciation

• (British) IPA: /dɪˈflɛkt/

Verb

deflect (deflects, present participle deflecting; past and past participle deflected)

1. (transitive) To make (something) deviate from its original path.
2. (transitive, ball games) To touch the ball, often unwittingly, after a shot or a sharp pass, thereby making it unpredictable for the other players.
3. (intransitive) To deviate from its original path.
4. (transitive, figuratively) To avoid addressing (questions, criticism, etc.).

   Synonyms: elude

   The Prime Minister deflected some increasingly pointed questions by claiming he had an appointment.

5. (transitive, figuratively) To divert (attention, etc.).
   • 2013, Luke Harding and Uki Goni, Argentina urges UK to hand back Falklands and 'end colonialism (in The Guardian, 3 January 2013)

     Critics suggest that Fernández, an unashamed populist and nationalist, is seeking to deflect attention from social disharmony at home.

Related terms

• deflection

Translations

• French: détourner
• German: ablenken
• Russian: отклоня́ть
• Spanish: desviar

Translations

• German: abfälschen

Translations

• French: dévier
• German: ausweichen, abweichen
• Russian: отклоня́ться
• Spanish: desviarse

Translations

• German: ausweichen
• Russian: уклоня́ться

Translations

• German: zerstreuen

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