# beat around the bush

idiom · CEFR B2

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/beat-around-the-bush
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally.

## Examples

- Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.
- 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.

## 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.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.