beat about the bush
Meaning: To speak or write evasively; to talk around an issue.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Nature
Origin: The phrase originates from a hunting practice dating to the 15th century, in which hunters hired `beaters' to drive small animals out of bushes where the hunters could more easily get to them. The beaters would lightly beat around the edges of the bushes to lure the animals out without completely frightening them away.
More idioms — Nature
- beat the bushes — To search exhaustively.
- between the devil and the deep blue sea — Facing two difficult outcomes for the same situation.
- down to earth — Practical and rational; unpretentious.
- fair-weather friend — A person who is loyal in good times but not when times are difficult.
- field day — A wild and uncontrolled time; a time of especially pleasant or exciting action.
- get one's second wind — To get a second burst of energy.
More English idioms
- give someone a snow job — To give someone a description of something or someone that is unrealistically attractive…
- heavyweight — A person who is important and influential; a leader in a particular field.
- hold water — To be credible or sound; to stand up to scrutiny; to make sense.
- in hot water — In trouble.
- kill two birds with one stone — To accomplish two objectives with one action.
- leave no stone unturned — To search everywhere.
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