beat about

idiom

Meaning

Avoid giving a direct answer or addressing the main point of a conversation, usually because the subject is uncomfortable or sensitive.

Examples

Stop beating about the bush and tell me if you are resigning or not.
He spent ten minutes beating about the issue before finally admitting he had lost the report.

Synonyms: dodge, evade, equivocate, prevaricate

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beat about

idiom

Pronunciation: /biːt əˈbaʊt/

Definition

Avoid giving a direct answer or addressing the main point of a conversation, usually because the subject is uncomfortable or sensitive.

Examples

Stop beating about the bush and tell me if you are resigning or not.
He spent ten minutes beating about the issue before finally admitting he had lost the report.

Synonyms of beat about

Words with a similar meaning to beat about:

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