Skill Check in Combat

a skill check in combat is free to attempt, but may require an action or bonus action to actually complete if you are successful, at the DM's discretion. This encourages skills checks as creative solutions to otherwise straightforward (and potentially boring) encounters without punishing them for trying something new of they fail. Example, you are fighting in a library:

Player: I want to run up and push this bookcase over, crushing the goblin behind it.

DM: Alright, that'll be a Strength check, but it'll cost you your action to push it over.

Player: ... a 4.

DM: The bookcase proves heavier than you anticipated, but you still have 15 feet of movement and can attack.

Player: Alright, I guess I'll swing around and hit the goblin with my sword.