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  2. beat around the bush. idiom (UK also beat about the bush) Add to word list. C1. to avoid talking about what is important: Don't beat around the bush - get to the point! SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Digressing and being indirect or evasive. bury the lede idiom.

    • English (US)

      BEAT AROUND THE BUSH meaning: 1. to avoid talking about what...

    • Polski

      BEAT AROUND THE BUSH definicja: 1. to avoid talking about...

    • Beat It Idiom

      BEAT IT! definition: 1. go away! 2. go away! 3. slang leave...

    • Simplified

      BEAT AROUND THE BUSH translate: (说话)转弯抹角,兜圈子. Learn more in...

  3. beat around the bush. To speak vaguely or euphemistically so as to avoid talking directly about an unpleasant or sensitive topic. Primarily heard in US. Don't beat around the bush—just tell me the truth.

    • Meaning
    • Example Sentences
    • Origin
    avoid talking about the main topic
    not speaking directly or precisely
    avoid the important point
    approach indirectly
    Will you please stop beating about the bushand get to the point?
    When I asked George whether he knew who had taken the files from my desk, he started beating around the bushand refused to give me a direct answer.
    Don’t beat around the bush and tell me frankly what you think of my proposition.
    I know this discussion is an uncomfortable one, but instead of beating about the bush, let’s come to the point and get over with it.

    The origin of this phrase lies in medieval hunting. During bird hunts, some participants would rouse the birds by beating the bushes so that the others could hunt them. The phrase is a very old and the first written reference is from a medieval poem “Generydes – A Romance in Seven-line Stanzas” in 1440, which mentions “beat the bush”. The earliest ...

  4. To avoid getting to the point of an issue: “Your worries have nothing to do with the new proposal. Stop beating around the bush, and cast your vote!”

  5. Sep 15, 2023 · The idiom “beat around the bush” is used to describe someone who is avoiding the main topic or not speaking directly about an issue. It suggests evasion or indirectness. We often use this idiom when someone is hesitant to get to the point or is trying to avoid discussing a sensitive or uncomfortable topic. For instance, if someone is trying ...

  6. The phrase “beat around the bush” refers to someone who is avoiding a topic or question by speaking in a roundabout way, rather than addressing it directly. This can be frustrating for those trying to have a conversation with them, as they may feel like they’re not getting straight answers.

  7. May 21, 2021 · When someone “beats around the bush,” they aren’t getting to the point of the conversation. Instead, they are talking around the issue or taking an indirect root to their point. While it can be highly annoying, it happens in conversation all the time.

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