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beat around the bushto avoid talking directly about a topic, especially a difficult or sensitive one

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: to avoid talking directly about a topic, especially a difficult or sensitive one

Pronunciation (IPA): /biːt əˈraʊnd ðə bʊʃ/

Korean meaning: 핵심이나 중요한 주제를 피해서 돌려 말하다, 에둘러 말하다

Korean pronunciation: 비트 어**라운**드 더 **부**쉬

Example Sentences

  • My boss always beats around the bush when giving bad news.
  • Don't beat around the bush - did you eat my leftover pizza or not?
  • The politician beat around the bush for 20 minutes without answering the question.

beat around the bush

NOUN

//biːt əˈraʊnd ðə bʊʃ//

to avoid talking directly about a topic, especially a difficult or sensitive one

beat around the bush concept
💡 Concept

Stop beating around the bush and just tell me what happened last night.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/biːt əˈraʊnd ðə bʊʃ/
🇬🇧 UK/biːt əˈraʊnd ðə bʊʃ/

🌳Etymology

Origin

16세기 새 사냥에서 유래된 표현입니다. 사냥꾼들이 덤불 속 새를 잡기 위해 막대기로 덤불 주변을 두들겨 새를 몰아내던 방식에서 나왔습니다. 하지만 이런 식으로는 새를 직접 잡지 못하고 시간만 낭비한다는 의미에서 '핵심을 피해 돌아가는 행위'를 뜻하게 되었습니다.

🎵Rhyme

bushpushcrush
bush
push
crush

🔗Collocations

stop beating around the bush
quit beating around the bush
without beating around the bush
always beating around the bush
tend to beat around the bush

📝Examples

My boss always beats around the bush when giving bad news.

😄 Fun example

Don't beat around the bush - did you eat my leftover pizza or not?

The politician beat around the bush for 20 minutes without answering the question.

I'll cut to the chase instead of beating around the bush - you're fired.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

hedgeevadecircumventskirt arounddance around

Antonyms

be directcut to the chasespeak plainly

Related

beating about the bushevasiveindirectroundabout

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