英语俚语天天说 第18期:拐弯抹角beat around the bush

 　　beat around the bush¹ 和 beat about the bush 是“拐弯抹角”，“旁敲侧击” 或 “说话绕圈子”的意思。beat是“拍打”，bush是“灌木丛”，around 和 about 都是“四周”的意思。据说从前英国贵族打猎时，会先派人进树林，用树枝敲打树，好让鸟类或小动物因受惊吓而跑出。后来 beat around the bush 演变成“拐弯抹角”、“旁敲侧击”或“说话绕圈子”等意。

　　English Club 给出的注释是：If you beat around the bush, or beat about the bush, you don't say something directly², usually because you don't want to upset the person you're talking to.

　　例句：

　　1）I had trouble telling Pedro he'd lost his job. I started beating around the bush and talking about one door closing and another door opening.

　　佩德罗丢了工作，告诉他我怕会有麻烦,于是我开始拐弯抹角说一扇门关闭了另一扇门就会打开。

　　2）Stop beating about the bush. Just tell me what has happened.

　　别兜圈子了，快告诉我们发生什么事了。

1 bush   

n.灌木，灌木丛，矮树

参考例句：

• This bush has grown up a lot in the last few months.这矮树丛几个月来已向上长高了很多。
• A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.一鸟在手，胜于二鸟在林。

2 directly   

adv.直接地，径直地；马上，立即

参考例句：

• I will telephone you directly I hear the news.我一听到消息，马上打电话给你。
• She answered me very directly and openly.她非常坦率地、开门见山地答复了我。