Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

beat about the bush

/ˈbit əˌbaʊ̯t ðə bʊʃ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.37 in modern English

Syllables: beat a-bout the bush
IPA: /ˈbit əˌbaʊ̯t ðə bʊʃ/

28

Scrabble Score

16

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

Alternative form of beat around the bush.

Example Sentences

"There is no use beating about the bush with a man like you. I know that. You are direct, and so am I. You know my position well enough to be assured that I am empowered to treat with you."
""Meanwhile, we are sitting here starving. Let's not beat about the bush - we are absolutely living hand to mouth now on TfL."

Etymology

From medieval English hunting practices. Some men would whack bushes with sticks to scare birds out so that others could hunt them. Beating the bush directly could be dangerous.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈbit əˌbaʊ̯t ðə bʊʃ/
British English: /ˈbiːt əˌbaʊ̯t ðə bʊʃ/

Inflected Forms

beats about the bush (present, singular) beating about the bush (participle, present) beated about the bush (nonstandard, past) beaten about the bush (participle, past) beated about the bush (nonstandard, participle)

Questions

How do you pronounce beat about the bush?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbit əˌbaʊ̯t ðə bʊʃ/.
What does beat about the bush mean?: Alternative form of beat around the bush.
Where does beat about the bush come from?: From medieval English hunting practices. Some men would whack bushes with sticks to scare birds out so that others could hunt them. Beating the bush directly could be dangerous.

How to pronounce beat about the bush

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “beat about the bush”.
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