beat around the bush

beat around the bush
beat around the bush & beat about the bush
Fig. to avoid answering a question; to stall; to waste time. •

Stop beating around the bush and answer my question.

Let's stop beating about the bush and discuss this matter.

* * *
See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • beat around the bush — See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • beat\ around\ the\ bush — • beat about the bush • beat around the bush v. phr. slang To talk about things without giving a clear answer; avoid the question or the point. He would not answer yes or no, but beat about the bush. He beat about the bush for a half hour without …   Словарь американских идиом

  • beat around the bush — beat about/around the bush to avoid talking about a difficult or embarrassing subject because you are worried about upsetting the person you are talking to. Don t beat around the bush. Just tell me where my brother is. (usually negative) There is …   New idioms dictionary

  • beat around the bush — verb be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information • Syn: ↑equivocate, ↑tergiversate, ↑prevaricate, ↑palter • Derivationally related forms: ↑paltering (for: ↑palter), ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • beat around the bush — talk without telling the main point    Politicians often beat around the bush. They talk a lot but say little …   English idioms

  • beat around the bush — Synonyms and related words: about the bush, around the bush, beat about, beat around, beg the question, bicker, boggle, cavil, choplogic, circumlocute, dodge, duck, equivocate, evade, evade the issue, fence, go round about, hedge, hem and haw,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • beat around the bush — verb a) To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally. Please stop beating around the bush and tell me what the problem is! b) To delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant. Syn …   Wiktionary

  • beat around the bush — phrasal see beat about the bush …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • beat around the bush —    This expression is used to tell someone to say what they have to say, clearly and directly, even if it is unpleasant.     Stop beating around the bush. Just tell me what has been decided! …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • beat around the bush — speak indirectly or evasively Stop beating around the bush and give us your final decision …   Idioms and examples

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