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Why do People Say Beat Around the Bush? | Idioms and Phrases

Why do People Say Beat Around the Bush? | Idioms and Phrases

Robert Teaches English

2,755 views 5 years ago

Warm-up Questions

Have you heard the idiom “beat around the bush” before? What do you think it means?
Why do you think people use idioms and phrases instead of speaking directly?
What kinds of situations might make a person avoid saying something clearly?

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Why do People Say Beat Around the Bush? | Idioms and Phrases

Meaning of the idiom + the broken vase example (00:00 – 00:58)

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1. What does “beat around the bush” mean?

To speak about the main point very clearly
To avoid talking about the main point
To argue loudly with someone

2. In the example, what does the speaker break?

A vase
A mirror
A window

3. What does the listener say when they notice the speaker is nervous and hiding something?

“Please leave my house now.”
“Stop beating around the bush. What happened?”
“Can you clean the bathroom?”

Why do People Say Beat Around the Bush? | Idioms and Phrases

Using the idiom for exciting news and bad news (00:58 – 01:57)

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1. What gift does the speaker use as an example of exciting news?

A new phone
Concert tickets
A vacation

2. Why might someone beat around the bush before sharing exciting news?

To avoid speaking to the listener
To build suspense before the big reveal
To change the topic because they forgot the news

3. Which sentence is used as an example of not beating around the bush when giving bad news?

“I don’t want to beat around the bush—your band is great.”
“I don’t want to beat around the bush—I bought you a car.”
“I don’t want to beat around the bush—I got fired today.”

Why do People Say Beat Around the Bush? | Idioms and Phrases

Origin story: hunting in the 1400s and the wild boar (01:57 – 03:39)

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1. When does the speaker say the phrase first appeared in written English?

The 1900s
The 1400s
The 1700s

2. What kind of term was “beat around the bush” originally?

A hunting term
A medical term
A cooking term

3. Why would hunters beat around the bush instead of directly beating it?

Because they were avoiding danger from what might be hiding there
Because it was faster than beating the bush
Because they wanted the animals to sleep

Why do People Say Beat Around the Bush? | Idioms and Phrases

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1. Which situation best matches the meaning of “beat around the bush”?

You write a shopping list
You talk about small details instead of saying what really happened
You clearly explain the problem right away

2. According to the video, what is one common reason people beat around the bush?

They cannot remember any words
They want to use more grammar
They are afraid to talk about something

3. How does the hunting story connect to the modern meaning?

Both are about being rude to someone
Both are about decorating a bathroom
Both involve avoiding a direct approach because of possible consequences

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Why do People Say Beat Around the Bush? | Idioms and Phrases

What is a topic you might beat around the bush about? Why?
Is it ever a good idea to beat around the bush? When, and when not?
Do you have a similar idiom in your language? What does it literally mean?
How can you tell when someone is beating around the bush in a conversation (tone, body language, types of questions)?

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