Runaround

Noun

 * 1) An evasive explanation in the form of multiple excuses
 * 2) A section of type that is narrower than that of the column it is part of; typically next to an illustration

Thesaurus
avoidance, avoiding reaction, buck-passing, circumvention, defense mechanism, dodge, duck, elusion, elusiveness, equivocation, escape, eschewal, evasion, evasive action, evasiveness, foiling, forbearance, forestalling, forestallment, frustration, getting around, getting round, jink, neutrality, nonintervention, noninvolvement, outguessing, outmaneuvering, outwitting, passing the buck, prevention, refraining, roundabout, shunning, shunting off, shy, sidestep, sidetracking, slip, the runaround, the slip, thwarting, zigzag

Etymology
From the phrasal verb run around

Derived terms

 * get the runaround
 * give somebody the runaround