What’s Wrong with Beating Around the Bush?

Have you ever tried to ask for something but ended up talking about everything except what you wanted? That’s beating around the bush.

This phrase comes from hunting. Hunters would beat bushes to scare birds into the open. Nowadays, it means avoiding the main point and dancing around the subject.

Picture someone hinting about a raise but never outright asking for it. Or a friend who keeps mentioning how they love your cupcakes, hoping you’ll offer them one. It’s amusing at first but gets frustrating fast.

So here’s a challenge: next time, skip the bush and go straight for the bird—or in non-hunting terms, just say what you mean. It’s quicker, clearer, and let’s be honest, far less exhausting.

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