English Step by Step with Pictures

To steer a safe distance from; go around without touching. /A ship steers clear of a rocky shore in stormy weather./ 2. {informal} To stay away from; keep from going near. /Fred was angry at Bill, and Bill was steering clear of him./ /Some words Martha always spells wrong. She tries to steer clear of them./ [stem the tide]{v. phr.} To resist; hold back something of great pressure or strength. /The way to stem the tide of juvenile delinquency is to strengthen education and to pass a stiff gun control law./ [step] See: IN STEP, OUT OF STEP, TAKE STEPS. [step all over] See: WALK OVER. [step down]{v.} 1. To come down in one move from a higher position to a lower. /As soon as the train stopped, the conductor stepped down to help the passengers off./ 2. To make go slower little by little. /The train was approaching the station, so the engineer stepped it down./ Compare: SLOW DOWN, STEP UP. 3. To leave a job as an official or some other important position. /When the judge became ill, he had to step down./ [step in]{v.} 1 ...»