up to Idioms

Beat around the bush

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Generated image of peasant scaring birds out of a bush
To beat around the bush means to avoid the main point of a conversation instead of speaking directly about the real issue. It usually describes someone who talks indirectly to avoid saying something uncomfortable.

The phrase comes from hunting practices where people would beat bushes to drive birds out into the open. Someone who stayed around the bush instead of going straight for the target was not getting to the point.

Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really think.