Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.
beat around the bush
idiom B2
To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally.
Origin
From medieval bird hunting: beaters struck around bushes to flush out birds without attacking them directly; 'beat the bush' is attested from the 15th century.
Instead of beating around the bush, the manager finally admitted that the project was over budget.
He spent ten minutes beating around the bush before he found the courage to tell his parents he had left university.
- 01
beat a dead horse
To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest or reason.
- 02
beat a retreat
To leave hastily in the face of opposition.
- 03
beat as one
To share the same feelings.
- 04
beat Banaghan
To tell wonderful stories, or something which is amazing and remarkable.
- 05
beat feet
To run.
- 06
beat it
To leave; to go away.
- 07
beat off
To masturbate by stimulating one's own penis.
- 08
beat off with a stick
To reject (a person making an unwanted amorous approach).