Tourner autour du pot
Example: Arrête de tourner autour du pot et dis-moi la vérité.
Definition
"Tourner autour du pot" is a French expression meaning to avoid addressing the main point directly or to delay coming to the subject. It is often used when someone is hesitating or being indirect in conversation, as in "Stop beating around the bush and tell me the truth."
Etymology
The phrase "Tourner autour du pot" literally means "to turn around the pot." It likely originates from the image of someone circling a cooking pot without stirring or directly dealing with its contents, symbolizing hesitation or avoidance. Did you know that this metaphor vividly captures the idea of evading a topic by not confronting it head-on?
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"Tourner autour du pot" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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To beat around the bush