beat around the bush

Cultural  

1. 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!”

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beat around the bush Idioms  

1. Also, beat about the bush. Approach indirectly, in a roundabout way, or too cautiously. For example, Stop beating around the bush—get to the point. This term, first recorded in 1572, originally may have alluded to beating the bushes for game.

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Example Sentences

“I’m not going to beat around the bush, man: We want to win the Super Bowl,” wide receiver Garrett Wilson said.

From Washington Times • Jul. 21, 2023

I am not going to beat around the bush and say no because it represents so much to so many of us.”

From Seattle Times • Apr. 18, 2023

Let’s not beat around the bush about it.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 12, 2022

“He doesn’t beat around the bush ... he wants to know what isn’t working well, not just what’s working,” said a source with access to Sheikh Mohammed.

From Reuters • May 13, 2022

Attempts to beat around the bush made her turn prickly.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

• baffle
• confound
• dodge
• evade
• flee
• foil
• frustrate
• outrun
• outwit
• puzzle
• shun
• stall
• stonewall
• thwart