end run

An evasive or diversionary action or maneuver around some obstacle or difficulty. An allusion to a play in American football, in which the carrier of the ball runs wide to evade the defensive line. Many wealthy citizens try to perform an end run around their country's tax laws by filtering their money in offshore accounts. I don't think it's a wise decision to escalate the issue and do an end run around your boss just to get the outcome you want. A: "Mom said no." B: "OK, so we'll just an end run around her to Dad or Grandma. They'll say yes."

an end run

AMERICAN, INFORMAL

An end run is something that you do in order to avoid something. He's trying to do an end run around the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Note: This expression comes from American football where a player with the ball runs around a line of members of the other team.