English

Alternative forms

• beat about the bush

Verb

beat around the bush ‎(third-person singular simple present beats around the bush, present participle beating around the bush, simple past and past participle beaten around the bush)

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.

   Please stop beating around the bush and tell me what the problem is!

Synonyms

• pussyfoot
• prevaricate
• waffle

Antonyms

• cut to the chase
• get on with it
• get to the point

Translations

See also

• circumlocution
• long-winded