World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesBeat around the bush
/biːt əˈraʊnd ðə bʊʃ/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
To speak evasively, or to avoid addressing a sensitive or difficult topic directly.
"Stop beating around the bush and tell me exactly how much the project will cost." - 2
To delay or waste time by talking about irrelevant matters instead of coming straight to the point.
"He spent twenty minutes beating around the bush before finally announcing his resignation."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Originating from medieval hunting practices, the phrase refers to beaters who would thrash bushes and undergrowth to flush out birds or game without actually entering the dense thicket themselves. Over centuries, the literal action evolved metaphorically to describe approaching a sensitive topic cautiously or evasively without getting to the main point.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Beat around the bush"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Beat around the bush" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
tourner autour du pot
Transliteration: tour-nay o-rood doo poh
"Arrête de tourner autour du pot et dis-moi la vérité."
um den heißen Brei herumreden
Transliteration: oom den high-sen bry her-oom-ray-den
"Rede nicht um den heißen Brei herum, sag mir einfach die Wahrheit."
menare il can per l'aia
Transliteration: meh-nah-re eel kahn pehr lah-yah
"Non menare il can per l'aia e dimmi cosa è successo."
andarse por las ramas
Transliteration: ahn-dar-seh por las rah-mas
"No te andes por las ramas y dime qué quieres."
encher linguiça
Transliteration: en-shehr leen-gwee-sah
"Chega de encher linguiça e vá direto ao ponto."
घुमा-फिरा कर बात करना
Transliteration: ghuma-fira kar baat karna
"सीधे मुद्दे पर आओ, घुमा-फिरा कर बात मत करो।"
拐弯抹角
Transliteration: guǎi wān mò jiǎo
"请不要拐弯抹角，有什么话直说吧。"
말을 돌리다
Transliteration: mareul dollida
"더 이상 말을 돌리지 말고 솔직히 말씀해 주세요."
要得を得ない言い方をする
Transliteration: yodoku o enai iikata o suru
"遠回しな言い方はやめて、本題に入ってください。"
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