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

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

After meeting President Joe Biden, he said: “We shouldn’t beat around the bush: support from the United States is indispensable for the question of whether Ukraine will be in a position to defend itself.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2024

“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

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