ENGLISH
REFERENCE

go around the houses

idiom
Meaning

Do something (especially talking) circuitously.


Examples
SIMPLE

Please stop going around the houses and tell me the truth.

CONTEXTUAL

He went around the houses for twenty minutes before finally admitting he had lost the keys.

COMPLEX

Rather than addressing the core issue directly, the manager went around the houses with vague explanations, leaving the team more confused than before.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all dressed up and nowhere to go

    Elaborately attired or otherwise fully prepared for an anticipated situation or activity which, nevertheless, fails to occur.

  2. 02

    all systems go

    Everything is ready.

  3. 03

    as you go

    While one is doing (something); as one progresses.

  4. 04

    basket house

    A cafe or similar establishment where musical performances are given and the performers are then paid with money placed in a basket by members of the audience.

  5. 05

    bet the house

    Synonym of bet the farm.

  6. 06

    boldly go where no man has gone before

    To break new ground.

  7. 07

    bottom the house

    To clean a house from top to bottom; to clean a house extremely thoroughly.

  8. 08

    bring down the house

    To garner enthusiastic or wild applause or laughter.

Last updated April 17, 2026