Um den heißen Brei herumreden
Example: Er konnte nicht länger um den heißen Brei herumreden und gestand alles.
Definition
"Um den heißen Brei herumreden" is a German idiom meaning to avoid addressing the main topic directly by speaking in a roundabout or evasive way. It is often used when someone hesitates to speak frankly or confront an issue head-on.
Etymology
The idiom "um den heißen Brei herumreden" literally translates to 'talking around the hot porridge.' It originates from the idea that one avoids touching hot porridge directly, figuratively meaning to avoid the difficult or sensitive subject. Did you know this expression humorously captures the act of dodging straightforward communication?
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"Um den heißen Brei herumreden" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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beat around the bush