dodge
gb/dˈɑd͡ʒ/ us/dˈɑd͡ʒ/
A2
English
~ 4700
kitér, kibújik, kitérés, trükk, kibúvó
VERB
A2
1
kitér
B1
Usage pattern:
to dodge [something]
She dodged the ball just in time.
Épp időben kitért a labda elől.
The driver swerved to dodge a pedestrian.
A sofőr félrerántotta a kormányt, hogy kitérjen egy gyalogos elől.
He dodged out of the way of the falling branch.
They had to dodge flying debris during the storm.
Learner examples
I dodged the ball.
Kitértem a labda elől.
He dodged the car in the street.
Kitért az autó elől az utcán.
She dodged the falling rock.
The man dodged the dog running at him.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'dodge' with 'duck'; 'duck' means to lower your head, while 'dodge' usually means moving sideways or quickly away.
Meaning
Move quickly to avoid something
Collocations
dodge a punch
|dodge a bullet
|dodge traffic
|dodge an attack
Synonyms
evade (Often used for avoiding something less physical, like responsibility or questions.)
Antonyms
face (To confront or meet something directly instead of avoiding it.)
Themes
sports
|daily life
|safety
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
To move quickly to the side so something does not hit you or so someone cannot catch you.
To make a sudden quick movement to avoid being hit, seen, or caught.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to dodge [a question/responsibility]
The politician dodged the reporter's question.
A politikus kitért az újságíró kérdése elől.
He tried to dodge responsibility for the mistake.
Megpróbált kibújni a hiba miatti felelősség alól.
She dodged criticism by changing the subject.
Learner examples
He dodged the hard question.
Kitért a nehéz kérdés elől.
She dodged her boss's request.
Kitért a főnöke kérése elől.
They dodged talking about money.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this sense for physical avoidance; in conversation, context often makes it clear whether it's literal or figurative.
Meaning
Avoid giving a direct answer or responsibility
Collocations
dodge a question
|dodge responsibility
|dodge criticism
Synonyms
sidestep (A slightly softer term that can also imply strategic avoidance.)
Antonyms
address (To deal with something directly and openly.)
Themes
communication
|politics
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To try not to deal with something or answer a question directly.
To avoid discussing, answering, or dealing with something directly, often to escape blame or difficulty.
NOUN
B1
3
kitérés
B2
With a quick dodge, she escaped the tackle.
Egy gyors kitéréssel elkerülte a szerelést.
His dodge saved him from injury.
A kitérése megóvta a sérüléstől.
The rabbit made a sudden dodge into the bushes.
Learner examples
She made a quick dodge.
Egy gyors kitérő mozdulatot tett.
The boy's dodge kept him safe.
A fiú a kitérésének köszönhetően biztonságban maradt.
I saw his dodge to the left.
Meaning
Quick movement to avoid something
Collocations
make a dodge
|a clever dodge
Synonyms
sidestep (Specifically refers to moving sideways to avoid contact.)
Antonyms
confrontation (Meeting something head-on instead of avoiding it.)
Themes
sports
|safety
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
A fast move to get away from something or someone trying to hit or catch you.
A sudden quick movement made to avoid being hit, caught, or seen.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
4
It was just a tax dodge.
Csak egy adóelkerülési trükk volt.
His excuse was a dodge to get out of work.
A kifogása csak kibúvó volt, hogy megússza a munkát.
They came up with a dodge to avoid paying fees.
Learner examples
It was a trick, a dodge.
Trükk volt, egy kibúvó.
He used a dodge to miss work.
Egy trükkel kerülte el, hogy dolgoznia kelljen.
They found a dodge to not pay taxes.
Meaning
Trick to avoid duty or responsibility
Collocations
tax dodge
|clever dodge
Synonyms
ploy (A planned action intended to achieve an advantage, sometimes dishonest.)
Antonyms
honesty (Acting truthfully without using tricks.)
Themes
work
|communication
|core_vocabulary
|law
|business
Definition
A trick people use to avoid doing something they should do.
A clever or dishonest plan or method used to avoid doing something or to gain an advantage.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dodge
IPA
GB/dˈɑd͡ʒ/
US/dˈɑd͡ʒ/
Syllables & stress
dodge (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (dodge)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: dodge
- Plural: dodges
Verb
- Base: dodge
- 3rd Person Singular: dodges
- Present Participle: dodging
- Past: dodged
Word family
Forms
dodges
noun
dodging
verb
dodged
verb
Related words
dodgy
adjective
dodger
noun
Expressions
dodge traffic
1/dˈɑd͡ʒ tɹˈæfɪk/
fixed phrase
Move quickly through traffic to avoid danger or delay
To move between cars on the road so you can go faster or stay safe.
Examples
- The cyclist had to dodge traffic during rush hour.
- We dodged traffic by taking side streets.
tax dodge
1/tˈæks dˈɑd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
Illegal method to avoid paying taxes
A dishonest way of not paying taxes you should pay.
Examples
- The government is closing loopholes used for tax dodges.
- He was arrested for running an international tax dodge.
dodge a bullet
1/dˈɑd͡ʒ ə bˈʊlɪt/
idiom
informal
Narrowly escape harm or trouble
To almost have a bad thing happen but escape it just in time.
Examples
- I really dodged a bullet when I missed that flight—it ended up being delayed for hours.
- We really dodged a bullet when that storm changed direction.
- We dodged a bullet by deciding not to invest in that company.
- She dodged a bullet by turning down that risky job offer.
- The company dodged a bullet when the new product finally passed safety tests.