2006-06-07 07:56:58 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Someone is beating around the bush if they fail to directly answer a question. Politicians are notorious for "beating around the bush."
2006-06-07 07:59:46 · answer #1 · answered by Princess 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When someone asks you a question and you avoid answering it. You change the subject or start defending it like, "why does that matter" and "other people do it". Some one says stop beating around the bush in hopes that you will give up and fess up.
2006-06-07 15:01:12 · answer #2 · answered by Vicky S. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Parents used to say that. Don't beat around the bush, I want to know exactly what happened. In other words tell it the way it was./ or is. Get to the point now. Don't gp around the subject but answer it truthfully.
2006-06-07 15:02:34 · answer #3 · answered by Lore 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Evading the issue or stalling. It derives from a hunting practice of beating around a bush to flush out birds.
2006-06-07 15:05:51 · answer #4 · answered by stickmanBOB 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Origin was from when royalty had people "beat around the bush" to flush games out.
Has come to mean to avoid a direct answer.
2006-06-13 17:50:43 · answer #5 · answered by Ed M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"beating around the bush" is basically the same as "stalling".
like someone could say "clean your room, and don't beat around the bush!" ... meaning, clean your room now.
2006-06-07 15:11:23 · answer #6 · answered by texandiva2006 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means tiptoe around the subject, not really wanting to address a subject..
Maybe they used to beat around a bush to flush out an animal instead of just hitting the animal...
2006-06-07 15:00:12 · answer #7 · answered by Sydmom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that you are hesitating, delaying or not being fully honest about something. Often it occurs in conversations that have uncomfortable dialect. You try to find a way around the words that you are really thinking.
2006-06-07 15:00:24 · answer #8 · answered by foolnomore2games 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the opposite of getting to the point. Embellishing and going around the main subject of whatever message you're trying to portray
2006-06-07 15:00:08 · answer #9 · answered by grldragon101 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that you are not being straight forward and honest. You are telling bits and pieces of a story--and not coming out with the truth.
2006-06-07 15:00:08 · answer #10 · answered by Terri C. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋