Dictionary

beat around the bush en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈbiːt əˌɹæɔ̯nd ðə bʊʃ/ (Australia)
• /ˈbiːʈ aˌɾawnɖ ðe bʊʃ/ (India)
• audio AuE
• /ˈbit əˌɹʌʊ̯nd ðə bʉʃ/ (Scotland)
• bēt′ ə-round′ thə bo͝osh
• /ˈbiːt əˌɹaʊ̯nd ðə bʊʃ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈbiːt əˌɹæʊ̯nd ðə bʊʃ/ (New-Zealand)
• /ˈbit əˌɹaʊ̯nd ðə bʊʃ/ (Canada, General-American)

Etymology

From the older form beat about the bush, replacing the preposition.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally.
2. (idiomatic) To delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant.
   • "Look here," said Smith, menacingly, "if you think I cheated you, you might as well say so right out. I don't like beating around the bush." 1870, Horatio Alger, Rufus and Rose:
   • Just stop beating around the bush and tell me what the problem is!

Forms

Antonyms

get to the point · get on with · cut to the chase

Coordinates

circumlocute · hem and haw

Relateds

long-winded · beat the bushes

Synonyms

prevaricate · pussyfoot · tergiversate · ramble · go around the houses · waffle

Translations (85)

pt usar de rodeios (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · tl magpaligoy-ligoy (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · nl rond de pot draaien (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · hu mellébeszél (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · cs chodit kolem horké kaše (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · tl lumigoy-ligoy (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · it menare il can per l'aia (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · es andarse con rodeos (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · fi puhua ummet ja lammet (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · ta சுற்றிவளை (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · mt dur mal-lewża (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · nl rond de pot draaien (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · sh obilaziti kao mačak oko vruće kaše (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · nl om de hete brij dansen (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · mi tītahataha (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · it fare giri di parole (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · pt encher linguiça (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · cmn 轉彎抹角 /转弯抹角 (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · pt encher linguiça (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · bg увъртам (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · pt embromar (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · lb ronderëm de Bräi schwätzen (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · it menare il can per l'aia (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · bg заобиколя темата (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · vi nói gần nói xa chẳng qua nói thật (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · fr tourner autour du pot (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · yue 轉彎抹角 /转弯抹角 (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · hu köntörfalaz (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · eo ĉirkaŭparoli (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · hu kerülgeti, mint macska a forró kását (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · hy ջուր ծեծել (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · it tergiversare (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · cmn 繞圈子 /绕圈子 (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · tl pasikut-sikot (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · de um den heißen Brei herumreden (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · fi kierrellä (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · no gå som katten rundt den varme grøten (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · fi kierrellä (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · cy hel dial (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · is fara í kringum eins og köttur í kringum heitan graut (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · cmn 拐彎抹角 /拐弯抹角 (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · ca marejar la perdiu (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · eo ĉirkaŭparoli (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · it andare per le spicce (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · hy յուղ վառել (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · ar لَفَّ وَدَارَ (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · de um den heißen Brei herumreden (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · tl pasikut-sikot (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · sv gå som katten kring gröten (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · pl owijać w bawełnę (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · hy ջուր ծեծել (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · pt enrolar (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · es ir por los cerros de Úbeda (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · cmn 拐彎抹角 /拐弯抹角 (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · vi vòng vo tam quốc (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · no gå som katten rundt den varme grøten (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · mt dur mal-lewża (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · pt enrolar (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · sv gå som katten kring het gröt (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · ta சுற்றிவளை (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · cmn 兜圈子 (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · tr lafı dolandırmak (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · hu köntörfalaz (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · mi tītahataha (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · nl om de hete brij dansen (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · cy curo o gwmpas y twmpathau (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · es andarse por las ramas (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · bg заобикалям темата (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · bg увъртя (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · pl owijać w bawełnę (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · ar لَفَّ وَدَارَ (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · ckb بڕۆ سەر ئەصلی بابەت (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · it girarci intorno (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · cy pilo wyau (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · is tala í kringum (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · hy յուղ վառել (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · fi kiertää kuin kissa kuumaa puuroa (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · sh okolišati (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · bg увъртам (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · es andar con ambages (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · fr tourner autour du pot (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant) · fi jaaritella (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · cy curo'r twmpath (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · pt fazer rodeios (to treat a topic but omit its main points) · bg увъртя (to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant)