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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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