beat around the bush — to 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/
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
Stop beating around the bush and just tell me what happened last night.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This idiom originated in 16th-century bird hunting practices, where hunters would strike bushes and their surrounding areas with sticks to drive birds out for capture. The phrase evolved metaphorically to mean avoiding the main point or wasting time on indirect approaches, as beating around bushes proved ineffective for actually catching the birds.
Breakdown
beat (strike repeatedly) + around (in the vicinity of) + bush (shrub or thicket). The literal hunting action of striking vegetation peripherally became a figurative expression for addressing a topic indirectly rather than confronting it directly.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“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.”
“I'll cut to the chase instead of beating around the bush - you're fired.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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