“Beating around the bush” is an idiom meaning to avoid a topic indirectly. It originated from a hunting technique to avoid dangerous animals. Avoiding direct discussion can have negative consequences in the workplace, relationships, and parenting.
When someone avoids a topic of conversation by distraction or using other avoidance techniques, it can be said that they are trying to get around it. It’s a way of saying that someone is avoiding a problem. It usually involves trying to work indirectly on a topic, without coming up with it directly.
The beating is called a figure of speech, or an idiom. An idiom is a phrase that cannot be translated literally in a way that makes sense. The meaning is to be taken figuratively. Idioms usually come from a more literal translation of the phrase that was relevant in people’s lives. The phrase “paths around” comes from an ancient hunting technique. Hunters, especially those who hunt wild boar or wild pigs, would pound bushes and trees to drive the boars out of their hiding places. This was safer than facing them directly, due to the razor-sharp fangs. Loops around the bush saved hunters from being injured by dangerous animals.
There are many reasons a person might choose to walk around the bush. Most commonly, it is done when a topic that needs to be discussed is unpleasant. For example, if a young woman has decided to break up with her long-term relationship with her boyfriend, she might not come out and say, “We’re done.” She is more likely to talk about taking her life in a new direction, any personal changes she has experienced, or even the benefit of dating several partners before marriage. This allows her to bring the topic up in a more gentle way and might even get the guy to start a conversation about her breakup before she does.
Another time someone can get around it is when they’re asked a question they don’t have a good answer for. An alcoholic may resort to beating about the bush when asked how much alcohol he drinks on a regular basis. A compulsive spendthrift may do the same when asked about his finances. This avoidance technique attempts to answer a question without giving a direct answer.
Avoiding jumping right into a discussion about something important by trying to get around it can have negative consequences, especially in the workplace. Not being able to get to the point right away when discussing major business moves can make employees seem unprepared for the meeting. Parents have a hard time teaching their children discipline when they hang around the bush, and couples who can’t openly discuss issues they may have will have a hard time staying together. While there are times when it may be appropriate to tactfully walk around the bush, it’s generally better to be able to come out directly with the matter at hand, rather than trying to hint at it obliquely.
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