beat around the bush

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!”

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Related Words

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