Main Entry: ²dodge

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): dodged; dodg·ing

Date: 1680

intransitive verb 1 a : to move to and fro or from place to place usually in an irregular course <dodged through the crowd> b : to make a sudden movement in a new direction (as to evade a blow) <dodged behind the door>
2 : to evade a responsibility or duty especially by trickery or deceittransitive verb 1 a : to evade by a sudden or repeated shift of position <dodge tacklers> b : to avoid an encounter with <celebrities dodging the media>
2 : to evade (as a duty) usually indirectly or by trickery <dodged the draft by leaving the country> <dodged questions>

— dodge a bullet also dodge the bullet : to narrowly avoid an unwelcome, harmful, or disastrous outcome or occurrence <coastal towns dodged a bullet when the hurricane veered out to sea>