"The whole point of this is to avoid a battle."

But what you've said is true, and I myself warned you that we must avoid a major battle.

They were to stay concealed and, if possible, avoid battle.

Avoid a major battle at all costs, no matter what the enemy tries to do.

To avoid a battle, the local people proposed a fight to the death between two water buffalo.

The Council's action was intended to avoid a costly legal battle.

I haven't time to explain, but avoiding battle is no shame in a case like this.

Avoiding battle was a prudent course of action at that time.

It was therefore advised to avoid a pitched battle against them.

In fact, despite the siege, both sides would go to great effort to avoid pitched battle.