Intermediate 💬 Idioms & Phrasal Verbs · #140 of 182

Idiom: Beat Around the Bush

to avoid the main point

Examples

  • Stop beating around the bush.

Key rules

  • Beat around the bush means avoid the main point by talking indirectly
  • It is used in negative commands: stop beating around the bush
  • The phrase usually appears with "stop" or "don't"
  • It is informal

Common mistakes

  • Stop beating around the bushes → Stop beating around the bush
💡 Tip: Say "Just tell me straight" as a plain-language alternative.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Intermediate quiz
← Idiom: A Dime a DozenPhrasal Verb: Back Out →

Related Intermediate topics

See all Intermediate idioms & phrasal verbs lessons →

Phrasal Verb: Put Off

to postpone

Phrasal Verb: Carry On

to continue

Phrasal Verb: Run Out Of

to use up completely

Phrasal Verb: Come Across

to find by chance

Phrasal Verb: Get Along With

to have a good relationship

Phrasal Verb: Look Forward To

to anticipate with pleasure