# Is there a word for the jig you do trying to get around someone on the sidewalk? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [March 18, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-jig-you-do-trying-to-get-around-someone-on-the-sidewalk/295203 "2005-03-18T20:41:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hobbesian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/22d042/32.png) [@hobbesian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobbesian)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-jig-you-do-trying-to-get-around-someone-on-the-sidewalk/295203/1 "2005-03-18T20:41:34Z")
From this weeks e-mail, [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_241.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_241.html) A couple of decades ago, LA Times columnist Jack Smith covered this topic for a few weeks, and a lot of readers sent in suggestions. My favorite was by a JPL engineer, who submitted a NASA style acronym, SPLAF. It stood for “simutaneous pedestrian lateral avoidance failure”. Keleigh ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-jig-you-do-trying-to-get-around-someone-on-the-sidewalk/295203/2 "2005-03-21T13:34:45Z")
> [@hobbesian](#): > > A couple of decades ago, LA Times columnist Jack Smith covered this topic for a few weeks, and a lot of readers sent in suggestions. My favorite was by a JPL engineer, who submitted a NASA style acronym, SPLAF. It stood for “simutaneous pedestrian lateral avoidance failure”. Well, that sounds like Situation Normal. I suppose most of what’s said in the column goes for indoors too. I haven’t been in the windy city in ages, but here on the east coast the dance doesn’t happen on the sidewalk very much. If you’re indecisive, the other guy will be decisive anyhow and mow you down. ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-jig-you-do-trying-to-get-around-someone-on-the-sidewalk/295203/3 "2005-03-21T23:13:12Z")
Douglas Adams already defined numerous such concepts.[I think you’ll find his efforts admirable](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0571131433/qid=1111447908/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-9362938-6882334?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) ---
**Author:** ![Peyton\_Farquhar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Peyton\_Farquhar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peyton_Farquhar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-jig-you-do-trying-to-get-around-someone-on-the-sidewalk/295203/4 "2005-03-22T01:45:05Z")
William Safire also covered this a couple of decades ago. He suggested “the shuffle” but I don’t remember what other candidates were listed. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-jig-you-do-trying-to-get-around-someone-on-the-sidewalk/295203/5 "2005-03-22T03:09:36Z")
Since moving back to the US from a country where people drive on the left, I’ve noticed this hallway jigjag is more of a problem. It was a problem when I first moved to the English Caribbean, too. I think people instinctively walk on the same side they drive. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-jig-you-do-trying-to-get-around-someone-on-the-sidewalk/295203/6 "2005-03-22T13:41:24Z")
I’ve heard it called kinesic stuttering, but google doesn’t hit on it, so I doubt that is a commonly used term. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-jig-you-do-trying-to-get-around-someone-on-the-sidewalk/295203/7 "2005-03-22T18:21:54Z")
> [@JillGat](#): > > Since moving back to the US from a country where people drive on the left, I’ve noticed this hallway jigjag is more of a problem. It was a problem when I first moved to the English Caribbean, too. I think people instinctively walk on the same side they drive. If only. People in New York and New Haven walk wherever the hell they want. I try to stick to the right, if only to be consistent. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-jig-you-do-trying-to-get-around-someone-on-the-sidewalk/295203/8 "2005-03-22T19:25:15Z")
> [@Khan](#): > > Douglas Adams already defined numerous such concepts.[I think you’ll find his efforts admirable](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0571131433/qid=1111447908/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-9362938-6882334?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) I was about to mention this. Douglas Adams did indeed name this concept the **Droitwich** : > [@](#): > > DROITWICH (n.) > A street dance. The two partners approach from opposite directions and try politely to get out of each other’s way. They step to the left, step to the right, apologise, step to the left again, apologise again, bump into each other and repeat as often as unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![Thinktank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Thinktank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thinktank)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-jig-you-do-trying-to-get-around-someone-on-the-sidewalk/295203/9 "2005-03-23T19:48:47Z")
I know it’s not the perfect fit as in definition, but what about the already-in-existence word “sidle” ? It makes no mention of a dance, but is essentially an accurate description of what’s going on. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-jig-you-do-trying-to-get-around-someone-on-the-sidewalk/295203/10 "2005-03-23T21:17:51Z")
> [@Thinktank](#): > > I know it’s not the perfect fit as in definition, but what about the already-in-existence word “sidle” ? It makes no mention of a dance, but is essentially an accurate description of what’s going on. _ **Brrreeeeeeet!!!** _ Ten-point penalty for unfair use of Reason! ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-jig-you-do-trying-to-get-around-someone-on-the-sidewalk/295203/11 "2005-03-24T02:39:31Z")
> [@hobbesian](#): > > From this weeks e-mail, [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_241.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_241.html) > > A couple of decades ago, LA Times columnist Jack Smith covered this topic for a few weeks, and a lot of readers sent in suggestions. My favorite was by a JPL engineer, who submitted a NASA style acronym, SPLAF. It stood for “simutaneous pedestrian lateral avoidance failure”. > > Keleigh Haven’t seen the links, but I do the sidestep. If both do it, it’s a mutual (simultaneous) sidestep.