English

Verb

to bat away ‎(phrasal verb)

1. To knock an object, usually a ball.

   The ball can still be batted away with one or both hands. It can be batted from a player's hands or batted away during a shot.

2. To avoid by diverting the focus of a discussion.
   • 2008, 13 April, in The Observer, Hunger. Strikes. Riots. The food crisis bites, by Robin McKie and Heather Stewart.

     For his part, Hank Paulson, the US Treasury Secretary - asked about the impact of US energy policies on food prices on Friday - tried to bat away the question.

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