beat about the bush

beat about 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 no point in beating about the bush. I'm leaving you.


New idioms dictionary. 2014.

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  • beat about the bush — or[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 coming… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • beat about the bush — or[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 coming… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • beat\ about\ 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 about the bush — If someone doesn t say clearly what they mean and try to make it hard to understand, they are beating about (around) the bush …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • beat about the bush — ► beat about the bush discuss a matter without coming to the point. Main Entry: ↑beat …   English terms dictionary

  • beat about the bush — phrasal also beat around the bush : to fail or refuse to come to the point in discourse * * * beat about the bush see under ↑bush1 • • • Main Entry: ↑beat beat about the bush To prevaricate, avoid coming to the point • • • …   Useful english dictionary

  • Beat about the Bush — Infobox Album | Name = Beat about the Bush Type = Album Artist = Show of Hands Released = 1994 Recorded = January 1994 at Wytherston Studios, West Dorset Genre = Folk Length = 55:20 Label = TWAH! records Twah105 (1994) Hands on Music HMCD08… …   Wikipedia

  • beat about the bush — or beat around the bush phrasal to fail or refuse to come to the point in discourse …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • To beat about the bush — Bush Bush (b[.u]sh), n. [OE. bosch, busch, buysch, bosk, busk; akin to D. bosch, OHG. busc, G. busch, Icel. b[=u]skr, b[=u]ski, Dan. busk, Sw. buske, and also to LL. boscus, buscus, Pr. bosc, It. bosco, Sp. & Pg. bosque, F. bois, OF. bos. Whether …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To beat about the bush — Beat Beat, v. i. 1. To strike repeatedly; to inflict repeated blows; to knock vigorously or loudly. [1913 Webster] The men of the city . . . beat at the door. Judges. xix. 22. [1913 Webster] 2. To move with pulsation or throbbing. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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