Clear and direct communication is key in both personal and professional settings.
However, some people tend to avoid getting to the point, making conversations long and unclear. The phrase “beating around the bush” describes this kind of indirect communication, where someone avoids addressing the main issue.
While this phrase is widely used, expanding your vocabulary can make your writing and speech more engaging.
In this blog post, we will explore 25 other ways to say “beating around the bush” to help you express this idea in different ways.
Whether you’re writing an article, giving a speech, or just trying to be more expressive in daily conversations, these alternatives will help you sound more natural and impactful.
25 Other Ways to Say “Beating Around the Bush”
- Talking in circles
- Dodging the issue
- Avoiding the point
- Skirting the issue
- Dancing around the topic
- Hemming and hawing
- Waffling
- Rambling on
- Dragging it out
- Going off on a tangent
- Evading the question
- Shilly-shallying
- Fumbling for words
- Sidestepping the issue
- Beating about the bush
- Speaking in riddles
- Meandering
- Procrastinating
- Filibustering
- Deflecting
- Minimizing the issue
- Clouding the subject
- Stretching the conversation
- Dilly-dallying
- Stalling
1. Talking in circles
Definition: Speaking repeatedly about the same thing without making progress.
Description: This phrase is used when someone keeps repeating the same ideas without arriving at a conclusion or addressing the main point.
Usage Examples:
- Instead of answering the question, he kept talking in circles.
- The debate went nowhere because both sides were talking in circles.
2. Dodging the issue
Definition: Avoiding discussing an important matter directly.
Description: When someone doesn’t want to address a specific issue, they try to change the subject or give vague responses.
Usage Examples:
- The politician kept dodging the issue when asked about his policies.
- Stop dodging the issue and tell me what really happened.
3. Avoiding the point
Definition: Not addressing the main topic or question.
Description: This phrase is often used when someone speaks about unrelated matters instead of focusing on what’s important.
Usage Examples:
- He was avoiding the point instead of giving me a clear answer.
- You’re avoiding the point—please tell me the truth!
4. Skirting the issue
Definition: Talking around a problem instead of dealing with it directly.
Description: This phrase is used when someone touches on a subject without fully addressing it.
Usage Examples:
- The manager kept skirting the issue about the budget cuts.
- Instead of solving the problem, he just skirts the issue every time.
5. Dancing around the topic
Definition: Indirectly discussing a subject without fully addressing it.
Description: Often used when someone is hesitant or afraid to speak directly about something.
Usage Examples:
- Stop dancing around the topic and say what you mean.
- She was dancing around the topic, afraid to hurt his feelings.
6. Hemming and hawing
Definition: Hesitating and avoiding a direct response.
Description: This phrase describes someone who is unsure or reluctant to give a clear answer.
Usage Examples:
- He was hemming and hawing when asked about his plans.
- Stop hemming and hawing and make a decision.
7. Waffling
Definition: Speaking in a way that is unclear or indecisive.
Description: This term is commonly used in British English to describe someone who keeps changing their opinion or talks too much without making a clear point.
Usage Examples:
- The speaker was just waffling instead of giving useful information.
- He keeps waffling about his job plans.
8. Rambling on
Definition: Talking continuously without getting to the point.
Description: This phrase describes someone who speaks for too long without making a clear point.
Usage Examples:
- He was rambling on without answering the question.
- I lost interest because she was just rambling on.
9. Dragging it out
Definition: Deliberately making something take longer than necessary.
Description: Used when someone unnecessarily prolongs a discussion instead of addressing the issue directly.
Usage Examples:
- Stop dragging it out and just tell me!
- The meeting took forever because they were dragging it out.
10. Going off on a tangent
Definition: Changing the subject suddenly in an unrelated direction.
Description: Often used when someone diverts from the main topic of discussion.
Usage Examples:
- He keeps going off on a tangent whenever I ask about his work.
- The professor went off on a tangent and forgot the original question.
11. Evading the question
Definition: Avoiding giving a direct answer to a question.
Description: This phrase is often used when someone deliberately ignores or sidesteps a question to avoid accountability or discomfort.
Usage Examples:
- The CEO kept evading the question about the company’s financial troubles.
- Stop evading the question and tell me the truth!
12. Shilly-shallying
Definition: Being indecisive and hesitant instead of making a clear decision.
Description: This is a slightly old-fashioned phrase used to describe someone who hesitates and avoids making a firm choice.
Usage Examples:
- We don’t have time for shilly-shallying—make a decision now!
- Stop shilly-shallying and tell them what you really think.
13. Fumbling for words
Definition: Struggling to express thoughts clearly.
Description: This phrase is often used when someone is unsure of what to say and stumbles over their words.
Usage Examples:
- He was fumbling for words when asked about his mistake.
- She kept fumbling for words, unable to explain her idea clearly.
14. Sidestepping the issue
Definition: Avoiding direct engagement with a problem or question.
Description: This phrase describes someone who carefully avoids talking about a particular topic.
Usage Examples:
- The politician was sidestepping the issue when asked about healthcare reform.
- Instead of addressing my concerns, she kept sidestepping the issue.
15. Beating about the bush
Definition: Another variation of “beating around the bush,” commonly used in British English.
Description: This phrase means avoiding getting to the main point, just like the original expression.
Usage Examples:
- Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you need.
- He spent the entire conversation beating about the bush instead of being honest.
16. Speaking in riddles
Definition: Talking in a confusing or indirect way.
Description: This phrase is used when someone makes their speech unnecessarily complicated, making it difficult to understand their true message.
Usage Examples:
- Instead of giving a clear answer, he was speaking in riddles.
- She tends to speak in riddles, making it hard to understand her point.
17. Meandering
Definition: Wandering off-topic instead of addressing the main point.
Description: This phrase describes someone who talks in a roundabout way without making a clear statement.
Usage Examples:
- His explanation was meandering, and I still don’t understand.
- The meeting was unproductive because the discussion kept meandering.
18. Procrastinating
Definition: Delaying or postponing taking action.
Description: This word is used when someone avoids addressing an issue or making a decision by putting it off.
Usage Examples:
- He was procrastinating instead of addressing the customer complaints.
- We can’t afford to keep procrastinating on this project.
19. Filibustering
Definition: Using long speeches to delay or avoid making a decision.
Description: Often used in politics, this term refers to the act of speaking at length to avoid action or resolution.
Usage Examples:
- The senator was filibustering to prevent the bill from passing.
- He kept filibustering instead of answering the question directly.
20. Deflecting
Definition: Shifting attention away from the main issue.
Description: This term is used when someone deliberately changes the topic to avoid discussing something uncomfortable.
Usage Examples:
- She kept deflecting when asked about her responsibilities.
- Instead of taking responsibility, he deflected and blamed others.
21. Minimizing the issue
Definition: Making a problem seem smaller or less significant than it really is.
Description: This phrase is used when someone downplays a serious matter instead of addressing it directly.
Usage Examples:
- Instead of fixing the problem, they were minimizing the issue.
- Stop minimizing the issue—this is serious!
22. Clouding the subject
Definition: Making a topic more confusing by adding unnecessary details.
Description: This phrase is used when someone intentionally makes an issue unclear instead of providing a straightforward response.
Usage Examples:
- The lawyer was clouding the subject to confuse the jury.
- Stop clouding the subject and tell me what really happened.
23. Stretching the conversation
Definition: Making a discussion unnecessarily long to avoid getting to the point.
Description: This phrase describes a situation where someone drags out a conversation without addressing the main issue.
Usage Examples:
- He was stretching the conversation instead of giving me a clear answer.
- She kept stretching the conversation to avoid the difficult topic.
24. Dilly-dallying
Definition: Wasting time by being slow or indecisive.
Description: This phrase is often used when someone hesitates or delays instead of taking action.
Usage Examples:
- Stop dilly-dallying and make a decision!
- We don’t have time for dilly-dallying—let’s get to work.
25. Stalling
Definition: Deliberately delaying or avoiding taking action.
Description: This term is used when someone postpones addressing an issue or making a decision.
Usage Examples:
- He was stalling because he didn’t want to admit his mistake.
- The suspect kept stalling instead of answering the police officer’s question.
Conclusion:
Expanding your vocabulary helps improve your communication skills and makes your writing more engaging. Instead of always saying “beating around the bush,” you can now choose from 25 alternative phrases depending on the context.
Next time you notice someone avoiding a direct answer, try using one of these expressions to describe their behavior!
