beat\ about\ the\ bush

beat\ about\ the\ bush
• beat about the bush
• beat around the bush
v. phr. slang
To talk about things without giving a clear answer; avoid the question or the point.

He would not answer yes or no, but beat about the bush.

He beat about the bush for a half hour without coming to the point.

Compare: beside the point Contrast: come to the point

Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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  • beat about the bush — or[beat around the bush] {v. phr.}, {slang} To talk about things without giving a clear answer; avoid the question or the point. * /He would not answer yes or no, but beat about the bush./ * /He beat about the bush for a half hour without coming… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • beat about the bush — or[beat around the bush] {v. phr.}, {slang} To talk about things without giving a clear answer; avoid the question or the point. * /He would not answer yes or no, but beat about the bush./ * /He beat about the bush for a half hour without coming… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • beat about the bush — If someone doesn t say clearly what they mean and try to make it hard to understand, they are beating about (around) the bush …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • beat about the bush — ► beat about the bush discuss a matter without coming to the point. Main Entry: ↑beat …   English terms dictionary

  • beat about the bush — phrasal also beat around the bush : to fail or refuse to come to the point in discourse * * * beat about the bush see under ↑bush1 • • • Main Entry: ↑beat beat about the bush To prevaricate, avoid coming to the point • • • …   Useful english dictionary

  • Beat about the Bush — Infobox Album | Name = Beat about the Bush Type = Album Artist = Show of Hands Released = 1994 Recorded = January 1994 at Wytherston Studios, West Dorset Genre = Folk Length = 55:20 Label = TWAH! records Twah105 (1994) Hands on Music HMCD08… …   Wikipedia

  • beat about the bush — beat about/around the bush to avoid talking about a difficult or embarrassing subject because you are worried about upsetting the person you are talking to. Don t beat around the bush. Just tell me where my brother is. (usually negative) There is …   New idioms dictionary

  • beat about the bush — or beat around the bush phrasal to fail or refuse to come to the point in discourse …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • To beat about the bush — Bush Bush (b[.u]sh), n. [OE. bosch, busch, buysch, bosk, busk; akin to D. bosch, OHG. busc, G. busch, Icel. b[=u]skr, b[=u]ski, Dan. busk, Sw. buske, and also to LL. boscus, buscus, Pr. bosc, It. bosco, Sp. & Pg. bosque, F. bois, OF. bos. Whether …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To beat about the bush — Beat Beat, v. i. 1. To strike repeatedly; to inflict repeated blows; to knock vigorously or loudly. [1913 Webster] The men of the city . . . beat at the door. Judges. xix. 22. [1913 Webster] 2. To move with pulsation or throbbing. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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