beat around the bush
Meaning: to avoid addressing the main point; to speak indirectly.
Language: English
Literally: to beat around a bush
Category: Daily Life
Origin: Medieval hunting practice where beaters scared game from bushes toward hunters.
More idioms — Daily Life
- pull your punches — to hold back; to be less forceful than you could be.
- stick your oar in — to interfere in someone else's affairs; to meddle.
- have an axe to grind — to have a personal grievance; hidden motives behind actions.
- run rings around someone — to easily surpass someone; to be far superior in ability.
- get the ball rolling — to start something; to initiate a process.
- as tough as old boots — very strong; enduring; difficult to break.
More English idioms
- give someone the cold shoulder — to deliberately treat someone with indifference or ignore them.
- let the cat out of the bag — to reveal a secret inadvertently.
- spill the tea — to reveal gossip or scandalous information.
- go belly up — to fail completely; to go bankrupt.
- wear your heart on your sleeve — to display emotions openly; to be transparent about feelings.
- mad as a box of frogs — completely crazy; chaotic and unpredictable.
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