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to avoid addressing a topic directly, often due to discomfort or evasion
Instead of beating around the bush, just say you don’t want to go to the party.
Be direct and clear about your refusal.
The manager beat around the bush when asked about layoffs.
The manager avoided giving a clear answer about layoffs.
Commonly used in conversations to criticize indirectness.
Use this idiom when you want to politely but firmly ask someone to stop avoiding the main issue in a conversation.
Never interpret this idiom literally. It’s about communication, not physical actions like hitting bushes.
The phrase dates back to the 16th century, originally referring to hunters who would beat bushes to flush out game without directly confronting it. By the 18th century, it evolved into a metaphor for avoiding direct communication.
This idiom is informal and often used in spoken English. It implies criticism of someone’s evasiveness.