Avoid vs You can't sweep that

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Avoid

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

You can't sweep that

Informal Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Most formal: Avoid Most common: Avoid

	Avoid	You can't sweep that
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //əˈvɔɪd// 🇺🇸 //əˈvɔɪd//	🇬🇧 //jʊ kɑːnt swiːp ðæt// 🇺🇸 //jʊ kænt swiːp ðæt//
Meaning	Stay away from something	You cannot ignore or avoid that issue.
Example	It's best to avoid fast food for better health.	You can't sweep that under the rug; it's a serious problem.
Register	Neutral	Informal
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR level	A2	-
Part of speech	verb
Collocations	avoid contact, avoid trouble, avoid mistakes	sweep under the rug, sweep aside concerns, sweep away issues
Antonyms	confront, face	-
Common mistakes	Confusing 'avoid' with 'prevent'; 'avoid' means not doing, while 'prevent' means stopping something from happening., Using 'avoid' without an object; always specify what you're avoiding., Misplacing 'avoid' in a sentence, leading to awkward phrasing.	Confused about the context; might use in formal situations., Misunderstands the meaning; thinks it literally refers to cleaning.
Usage notes	Use 'avoid' when you want to not do something. It's neutral and fits in most contexts, but might sound too formal in casual conversations.	Used in casual conversations to indicate that something must be acknowledged or dealt with. It’s often said when someone tries to overlook a problem.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

I can avoid being seen if I wish...

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

I would avoid #Richmond.

How I Met Your Mother › S1 E1

could you avoid the word "psycho"?

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

I can avoid being seen if I wish...

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

I would avoid #Richmond.

Avoid

Two of them cops. You can't sweep that... No.

You can't sweep that

Frequently asked questions: Avoid vs You can't sweep that

What's the difference between Avoid and You can't sweep that?

Avoid: Stay away from something You can't sweep that: You cannot ignore or avoid that issue.

Which is more formal: Avoid and You can't sweep that?

Avoid is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Avoid and You can't sweep that?

Avoid is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Avoid: It's best to avoid fast food for better health. You can't sweep that: You can't sweep that under the rug; it's a serious problem.

Can I use Avoid and You can't sweep that interchangeably?

Not always. Avoid and You can't sweep that are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.