beat around the bush; complicated and confusing
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesadjective
roundabout and indirect; to beat around the bush (in speech or action)
dialectUsed to describe someone who speaks or acts in a circuitous manner rather than getting straight to the point. Marked as dialectal usage (〈方〉).
Just keep it simple and tell me directly, don't beat around the bush.
He always beats around the bush when he talks, which makes people anxious.
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Stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point.
adjective
complicated and confusing; brain-twisting; hard to figure out
dialectDescribes something (speech, writing, or a matter) that is convoluted and requires much thought to understand. Often implies something is unnecessarily complex.
This problem is really brain-twisting and hard to figure out.
He keeps saying confusing and convoluted things that I don't understand.
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This matter was handled in such a complicated way that it took a lot of trouble.