beat around the bush
avoid getting to the point; speak indirectly
In Spanish
avoid getting to the point; speak indirectly
Examples
- Stop beating around the bush — just tell me what's wrong.
- She beat around the bush for ten minutes before finally asking for a raise.
- Instead of beating around the bush, he immediately addressed the issue at hand.
When it's used
This idiom is used in informal and everyday situations, often when someone is frustrated by indirect answers. It is common in spoken language but can also appear in informal writing.
The common mistake
Spanish speakers might mistakenly say 'beat around the bush' with an incorrect preposition, such as 'beat about the bush', which is less common and might sound odd to some English speakers.
Related idioms
FROM WHAT YOU READ TO WHAT YOU SAY
Recognising it isn't the same as using it
Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.
Practise speaking→