獵人打獵時，常為了逼出藏身在灌木叢裡的獵物，經常用棍子擊打灌木叢（beat the bushes），而around the bush的意思就是說沒有打中要害，而是在灌木叢周邊敲打，這樣是不會讓獵物現身的。引申意思為「說話或做事拐彎抹角、繞圈子」，不直截了當的表達。
看看老外聊天時怎麼用beat around the bush：
A What do you think about Lara？I haven't met such a pretty and smart girl before.
B Stop beating around the bush！You can just say that you like her so much！
A 你覺a拉拉怎麼樣？我沒遇過像她這麼聰明又美麗的女。
B 不要再拐彎抹角了，你大可直接說你非常喜歡她！
beat around the bush例句精選：
A: Don't beat around the bush! Tell me exactly what Jack said.
別拐彎抹角了！實話告訴我傑克說什麼了。
Ray, I won't beat around the bush with you.
雷，我不和你兜圈子了。
You won a lottery? Don't beat around the bush, just tell me, please.
你彩票中獎了？別拐彎抹角了，請告訴我。
Don't beat around the bush, tell me the news!
別兜圈子了，把消息告訴我吧。
說話不能直接切中主題，支支吾。除了beat around the bush外，還可以這樣表達：
come to the point 直截了當說明
I'll come to the point that our company is on the verge of bankruptcy.
我就直截了當說了，我們的公司正瀕臨破產。
speaking in a roundabout way 拐彎抹角說話
Please do not speak in a roundabout way，or l don't think we will have chance to cooperate with each other.
請不要拐彎抹角的說話，否則我想我們沒有任何的合作機會。