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beat around the bush

 

Definitions from WordNet

Verb beat around the bush has 1 sense
  1. beat around the bush, equivocate, tergiversate, prevaricate, palter - be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information
    --1 is one way to misinform, mislead
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s
    Somebody ----s PP

Definitions from the Web

Term: Beat Around the Bush

Definition:

The term "beat around the bush" is an idiomatic expression used to describe someone who is avoiding or delaying a direct or straightforward response or action. It implies talking or acting in a vague or evasive manner instead of getting to the point or addressing the issue directly.

Possible Parts of Speech:

  • Verb phrase
  • Noun phrase

Possible Senses and Usages:

Sense 1 (Verb phrase):

When used as a verb phrase, "beat around the bush" means to talk indirectly or at length about a topic without getting to the main point or issue.

Example Sentence:

Stop beating around the bush and just tell me what happened.

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Sense 2 (Noun phrase):

As a noun phrase, "beat around the bush" refers to the act of deliberately avoiding a clear or direct response.

Example Sentence:

His constant beating around the bush frustrated everyone in the meeting.

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Note:

Both senses of "beat around the bush" carry a negative connotation and are often used in situations where direct and concise communication is expected.

beastliness beastly beasts beat-up beat beat a retreat beat about beat about the bush beat around the bush beat back beat down beat generation beat in beat it beat on beat one s head beat out

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