viistää

Viistää is a Finnish verb that describes the action of moving or passing at an angle, often describing a glancing blow or a slanted path. It conveys a sense of obliqueness or a deviation from a straight course.

The verb can be used in various contexts. For instance, a boat might viistää a buoy, meaning it passes close to it but not directly head-on. An object could viistää another, suggesting it grazes or brushes against it. In a more figurative sense, a remark might viistää a sensitive topic, implying it touches upon the subject without directly addressing it.

The nuance of viistää often implies a slight miss or a path that is not perfectly aligned. It can suggest a near-collision or a trajectory that is slightly off. The word carries a visual implication of an angled movement, rather than a direct impact or passage.