Idiom
Beat around the bush
To beat around the bush means to avoid saying something directly, usually because it is awkward or unpleasant.
How people use it
People use it for talking in circles instead of making the main point: "Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened." It is most common in the negative or as a request: "I won't beat around the bush." It usually suggests nervousness or reluctance rather than dishonesty. American English says beat around the bush; British English usually says beat about the bush. The tone is informal.
Also said: beat about the bush.
Examples
- Just tell me what the doctor said; don't beat around the bush.
- I'll stop beating around the bush: I need to borrow your car on Friday.
- When Sam asked for a raise, he beat around the bush for so long that his manager had to ask what he wanted.
Where it comes from
It comes from hunting. In bird hunts, helpers called beaters hit bushes with sticks to scare birds out into the open, where hunters could catch them in nets. A poem from the 1400s already contrasts those who beat the bush with those who take the birds. Over time, beating the bush came to mean working around the edges instead of going straight for the goal.
Check yourself
1. If someone beats around the bush, what are they doing?
Answer: Avoiding the main point. Beat around the bush means talking indirectly instead of saying what you mean.
2. What is the usual British form of this idiom?
Answer: Beat about the bush. British English usually says beat about the bush; American English prefers around.
Similar idioms
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