Definitions
- Describing the act of avoiding work or duty by pretending to be ill or incapacitated. - Referring to shirking or evading responsibilities or obligations. - Talking about avoiding work or duty by using excuses or deception.
- Referring to avoiding a difficult or unpleasant situation by taking an indirect or evasive action. - Describing the act of dodging or evading something, such as a question or responsibility. - Talking about avoiding a confrontation or conflict by taking a different approach or direction.
List of Similarities
- 1Both involve avoiding or evading something.
- 2Both can be used in a figurative sense.
- 3Both can be used to describe actions that are not straightforward or direct.
What is the difference?
- 1Object of avoidance: Scrimshank is used to describe avoiding work or duty, while sidestep can refer to avoiding any difficult or unpleasant situation.
- 2Method of avoidance: Scrimshank involves using excuses or deception to avoid work or duty, while sidestep involves taking an indirect or evasive action.
- 3Connotation: Scrimshank has a negative connotation and implies laziness or dishonesty, while sidestep can be neutral or even positive, implying cleverness or resourcefulness.
- 4Usage: Scrimshank is a less common word and may not be familiar to many English speakers, while sidestep is more commonly used and versatile in various contexts.
- 5Formality: Scrimshank is typically associated with informal or colloquial language, while sidestep can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Remember this!
Scrimshank and sidestep are both verbs that describe avoiding or evading something. However, the difference between them lies in their object of avoidance, method of avoidance, connotation, usage, and formality. Scrimshank specifically refers to avoiding work or duty through excuses or deception, while sidestep can refer to avoiding any difficult or unpleasant situation through indirect or evasive action. Scrimshank has a negative connotation, while sidestep can be neutral or even positive. Sidestep is more commonly used and versatile in various contexts, while scrimshank is less common and associated with informal language.
