Meaning: To avoid talking directly about an issue or topic.
Hindi: घुमा-फिराकर बात करना
Synonyms: avoid the point, stall, equivocate
Asked in: SSC CGL 2023 T-1 · SSC CGL 2022 T-1
beat about the bush in SSC previous-year questions
- SSC CGL 2023 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom.
Do not beat about the bush when you have anything to say.Answer & explanation
Answer: B) To avoid giving a definite answer or position
Answer: To avoid giving a definite answer or position
Solution:
• The idiom "beat about the bush" means to avoid talking directly about the main point or issue (मुद्दे की बात को टालना या घुमा-फिराकर बात करना).
• In the sentence, the speaker is advising someone to stop avoiding the main point and speak clearly.
• Other options:
• To shift blame on others – incorrect
• To try to influence – unrelated
• To argue – not the meaning of this idiom
• Therefore, the correct meaning is: To avoid giving a definite answer or position. - SSC CGL 2022 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence.
When the District Attorney asked the convict about details of the day of the crime, he started beating about the bush.Answer & explanation
Answer: A) Speaking in a confusing manner without giving a correct answer
Answer: Speaking in a confusing manner without giving a correct answer
Explanation:
The idiom beats about the bush means to evade the main point or speak indirectly (मुद्दे से भागना).
Other choices don’t match:
• Being excessively aggressive (अत्यधिक आक्रामक होना)
• Accusing others of the crime (दुर्घटना का आरोप दूसरों पर लगाना)
• Trying to invoke sympathy (सहानुभूति जगाने का प्रयास करना)
Only “speaking in a confusing manner without giving a correct answer” captures the sense of evasion inherent in beating about the bush.
Examples
- “Stop beating about the bush and tell me what happened.”
beat about the bush – questions
What is the meaning of beat about the bush in Hindi?
beat about the bush means “घुमा-फिराकर बात करना” in Hindi. In English: To avoid talking directly about an issue or topic.
What are the synonyms of beat about the bush?
Synonyms of beat about the bush: avoid the point, stall, equivocate.
Has beat about the bush been asked in SSC exams?
Yes – beat about the bush has been asked 2 times in SSC exams: SSC CGL 2023 T-1, SSC CGL 2022 T-1.