Swerving

Pronunciation:

[ˈswɜrvɪŋ]

Definition

Swerving can be as simple as dodging someone you have no interest in. If you are the recipient of swerving, then you will have noticed that your partner has suddenly gone out of their way to avoid any kind of communication. Swerving can also include a general dismissiveness of conversation or a lack of updates on what your partner has been doing. Needless to say, it can change the course of the relationship and force it to end abruptly. While it is possible that something has changed in the perpetrator’s life, it is likely that the swerving began as a result of losing interest or potentially some sort of heartache.

Making excuses to get out of shared commitments are clear signs of swerving; blaming a busy work schedule or hectic social life will often be the culprit. ‘Something coming up’ will always seem to derail getting together or getting back to you as they had promised. If this becomes a pattern, then it is likely that you are being avoided and swerving is happening to you.

Example

Mindy and Evan had been on two dates, both of which made Mindy feel like a real connection had been established. Yet, every time she tried to get him to commit to coffee or dinner, something came up. She wasn’t familiar with the idea of swerving, but her friends seemed pretty certain that Evan wasn’t interested and was going out of his way to not spend any more time with her. She couldn’t understand why, since he often answered her texts and said he could make it before canceling later. Despite her friend’s advice, Mindy could not see that she was being swerved.