beat around the bush | beat about the bush
Meaning: If you beat around the bush, or beat about the bush, you don't say something directly, usually because you don't want to upset the person you're talking to.
- I had trouble telling Pedro he'd lost his job. I started beating around the bush and talking about one door closing and another door opening.
- Stop beating about the bush. Just tell me what's happened!
It's hard not to beat around the bush when you have to
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Contributor: Matt Errey