What Does "Beat around the bush" Mean: Definition and Examples

Q: What are other ways to say Beat around the bush?

Waffle, Cut to the chase, Flannel

Street voices

"Beating around the bush. The act of talking about less important things in an attempt to avoid talking about the more pressing matter at hand. But yeah, so anyways, afterwards I just bought a hamburger. Yeah, uh-huh, okay, you bought a hamburger, that's great. Stop beating around the bush and just tell me how the date went. Come on, man."

"To beat around the bush is when someone is avoiding the main topic and not speaking directly because they're uncomfortable or stalling. For example, Bro, stop beating around the bush. Just tell me what's going on."

"Yo girl, stop beating around the bush. I know you like me. Just say you like me and stop beating around the bush, because these signals you're sending, they are crystal clear"

What it means

Means not getting to the point and dancing round the awkward bit instead. Someone pads it out, drops hints, stalls for time, and makes everyone sit there thinking just spit it out already. You say it when a person's dodging a straight answer, making excuses, or trying not to say the thing they really mean.

Usage examples

"I asked where my hoodie went and he started on about traffic and weather. I went, stop beating around the bush, did you nick it?"

"Stop beating around the bush and just tell me if I got the job."

"Mate, stop beating around the bush. Did you crash the car or not?"

"Quit beating around the bush and tell me why HR wants a meeting at 4."

"Why are you giving me the scenic route, mate? Stop beating around the bush and tell me if you texted your ex."

Voice comments

No one has left their voice yet. Break the ice.

Tone

Ironic Funny Youthful

Where it is said

Australia United Kingdom United States Somerset Canada

Where it comes from

This one goes back to hunting in English from centuries ago. People would literally beat the bushes to flush birds or game out into the open instead of going straight in. That picture stuck, then wandered into everyday speech, where it came to mean dodging the real point instead of saying it plain.

Other ways to say it

Waffle Cut to the chase Flannel

Editors of this term

Álvaro @alvaro Tengo un talento muy concreto, siempre acierto con la fila más lenta del supermercado y de paso hago amistad con cualquiera que lleve unas galletas raras en la…
- Tagged this expression with their human voice
Hugues @hugues I make an excellent cup of tea and a deeply suspicious batch of pancakes, which feels like balance. I’m weirdly fond of rainy walks, tiny museums, and the sort…
- Let their everyday human voice loose on this expression
Ollie @ollie I make a very decent roast potato, an alarming cup of tea, and tiny paper stars when I’m meant to be doing something useful. I keep a running list of dogs I’ve…
- Dropped their real human voice on this expression
- Tidied the explanation so it reads natural and noted the origin it was missing.

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Beat around the bush