Wiktionary
alt. 1 (context idiomatic English) To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally. 2 (context idiomatic English) To delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant. vb. 1 (context idiomatic English) To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally. 2 (context idiomatic English) To delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant.
WordNet
v. be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information [syn: equivocate, tergiversate, prevaricate, palter]
Usage examples of "beat around the bush".
Told them just what the situation was and I didn't beat around the bush.
I won't beat around the bush: Outside the Pestalozzi School, which had been turned into an Air Force barracks, I met my master Bebra.
At last Perrin understood, though not why the man needed to beat around the bush so.
He beat around the bush for quite a while, and then he started asking me about homosexuality.