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Synonyms

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!”

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.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They weren’t the kind to beat around the bush.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

"The next few games are about him, I'm not going to beat around the bush," Coady said.

From BBC • May 3, 2025

“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

Members of the PAP who have worked with Wong told Reuters the politician "does not beat around the bush", though also described him as thoughtful and kind-hearted.

From Reuters • Jun. 6, 2022

When Lee felt that enough time had passed he did not beat around the bush.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.