B2idiomcommunicationIELTS-friendly
beat around the bush
USUK
to avoid saying something directly, usually because it is uncomfortable
Usually in the negative or as a command. British English also says 'beat about the bush'.
In context
Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened to my car.
I won't beat around the bush: we can't afford a pay rise this year.
More idioms about communication
- a moot pointUK: a question still open to argument. US: a question that no longer matters in practice.
- get the wrong end of the stickto understand something in the wrong way
- get to the pointto start talking about the most important part of a subject
- get your point acrossto make other people understand what you are trying to say
- hit the nail on the headto describe a situation or problem exactly right