beat around the bush
beat around the bush はTOEIC 730・TOEFL 60・IELTS 5.5レベルの英単語で、「要点を避ける、遠回しに言う」という意味があります。発音記号は /biːt əˈraʊnd ðə bʊʃ/ です。
意味一覧 (2件)
要点を避ける
解説 Definition
言いにくい本題や答えを直接言わず、周辺の話をして時間を延ばす表現です。質問への返答、謝罪、交渉などで、相手が核心に入らない態度を批判するときによく使います。
If someone beats around the bush, they avoid saying the main point directly. They talk about less important things first, often because the real answer is uncomfortable, embarrassing, or difficult to say. This expression is often used to criticize someone in conversations such as answering a question, apologizing, or negotiating when they do not get to the core issue.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
around the bush は「茂みの周り」を動くイメージです。中にある本題へまっすぐ入らず、周辺だけを回るので「要点を避ける」と覚えます。Don't beat around the bush. は「本題に入って」と促す定番表現。遠回しな言い方そのものより、質問や問題の核心を避け続ける態度に焦点があります。反対に get to the point や cut to the chase は、余計な前置きをやめて要点を言う表現です。
Picture someone walking around a bush instead of going straight into the middle. In the same way, a person who beats around the bush keeps circling the topic and avoids the real point. A common phrase is "Don't beat around the bush," which means "Please get to the point." It focuses on avoiding the core issue, not just speaking indirectly.
例文
Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.
要点を避けないで、何が起きたのか言ってください。
The manager kept beating around the bush instead of giving us a clear answer.
その部長ははっきり答えず、ずっと要点を避けていた。
If you want to make progress in the negotiation, don't beat around the bush.
交渉を前に進めたいなら、要点を避けてはいけない。
遠回しに言う
(意味 2)解説 Definition
核心に触れず遠回しな言い方をすること。はっきり本題を言わない態度を指す。
Beat around the bush means to avoid saying something directly. It is used when someone talks in an indirect way, especially about an uncomfortable or important topic. The phrase usually suggests that clearer speech would be better.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
beat around the bush は、直接的な言い方を避け、やわらかく遠回しに言う意味で覚えます。around が手がかりで、bush「茂み」の中心へまっすぐ入らず、周りを回るイメージです。相手に察してもらうために imply, hint, put it mildly のような言い方をする場面に近い表現です。苦情・忠告・断りなど、角を立てたくない話で使いやすく、Don't beat around the bush. も定番です。
The key word is `around`. Instead of going straight into the bush, you move around it, so you avoid the center point. This matches speaking indirectly or softly, especially in a phrase like `Don't beat around the bush.`
例文
Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.
遠回しに言わないで、何があったか教えてくれ。
He kept beating around the bush instead of answering my question directly.
彼は私の質問に直接答えず、遠回しに話し続けた。
Don't beat around the bush — just say yes or no.
遠回しに言わないで、イエスかノーで答えてください。
beat around the bush の語源・成り立ち Etymology
beat は「たたく」、bush は「茂み」。鳥猟で獲物を直接捕らえず、茂みの周囲をたたいて追い出す動作から、核心に直接入らない比喩になりました。
This idiom comes from bird hunting. Instead of going straight into the bush, people would beat the area around it to drive the birds out. From that image, the phrase came to mean avoiding the main point instead of going straight to it.
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