beating around the bush

A form of beat around the bush — To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of beat around the bush
Cite this entry
APA

beating around the bush. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beating%20around%20the%20bush

MLA

“beating around the bush.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beating%20around%20the%20bush. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “beating around the bush,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beating%20around%20the%20bush.

Source: beating around the bush on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.