hedge, fudge, evade, put off, circumvent, parry, elude, skirt, dodge, duck, sidestep -- (avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues); "He dodged the issue"; "she skirted the problem"; "They tend to evade their responsibilities"; "he evaded the questions skillfully")
skirt -- (pass around or about; move along the border; "The boat skirted the coast")
skirt -- (form the edge of)
surround, environ, ring, skirt, border -- (extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle; "The forest surrounds my property")