I have learnt that veer means a sudden change of direction but I found this in a podcast.
Once you are on Udall, head east for about two miles and when you reach the bend, veer right. If you veer left you will run into a dead end.
If someone veered into the side of the road does they veered intentionally or unintentionally? Also what does Udall mean?
Thank you
I don't think the verb "to veer" is the best one the author could have used in this situation. But, without my crystal ball that provides me with the context of your question, I can only guess that he meant to say "turn" right off of Udall instead of veer right.
"Also what does Udall mean?"
My crystal ball is showing me something about the US State of Arizona - I think it's the city of Phoenix. I see a street named after a local politician: Morris K Udall.
Ahh - the vision has gone away.
Last edited by JohnParis; 10-Dec-2011 at 10:39.
The podcaster is American from Los angles, California.
And there is no context other than the one I have quoted. He teaches English and the podcast was about getting directions and parking instructions.
About Udall. I don't know why I thought it is a street looks like U
Thanks for your crystal ball
The roads could diverge like a "Y." Then "veer right" makes more sense.
Veer | Define Veer at Dictionary.com
Nothing in the definition says a veer has to be sudden or sharp.
In BrE we would say "bear right" at a fork in the road.
"Bear right" would be the common expression in AmE, too. We usually only use "veer" in the expression "veer off course."
That's why I was so surprised to find the definition in the Oxford as follows:
definition of veer from Oxford Dictionaries
"Turn" or "bear" is what an automobile does, and I would have said "veer" too had I not checked it in the Oxford.
What's most interesting is that it says "to turn suddenly" then offers the example of an oil tanker veering off course. Tankers do not move suddenly.
Last edited by JohnParis; 11-Dec-2011 at 10:01.