beating around the bushes

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Definitions from WordNet

Verb beat around the bush has 1 sense

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

Beating Around the Bushes

Description:

Beating around the bushes is an idiomatic expression that means to avoid getting to the main point or topic of a conversation, often by talking in a roundabout or indirect way. It suggests a lack of straightforwardness or an unwillingness to address the issue directly.

Senses:

Verb (Phrasal): The act of avoiding or evading the main point or topic in a conversation.
Noun: A figurative expression indicating someone's tendency to speak in a circuitous manner.

Usage Examples:

Verb:

Stop beating around the bushes and tell me what you really think about the movie.
Instead of beating around the bushes, just ask her directly about the issue.

Noun:

His constant beating around the bushes only added to the confusion in the meeting.
I quickly grew tired of his beating around the bushes and asked him to speak plainly.

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