# beat about the bush

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈbiːt əˌbaʊ̯t ðə bʊʃ/

## Definitions
1. Alternative form of beat around the bush.

## Etymology
From medieval English hunting practices. Some men would whack bushes with sticks to scare birds out so that others could hunt them. Beating the bush directly could be dangerous.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/beat-about-the-bush