go (all) round the houses

British

to waste time saying a lot of things that are not important before you get to the subject you want to talk about.

There's no need to go all round the houses, just tell me straight out what's wrong.

• swing at someone
• swing at something
• swing both ways
• swing by
• swing by somewhere
• swing of things
• swing the balance
• swing the lead
• switch gears
• sword of Damocles hangs over head
• sword of Damocles hangs over someone's head
• tables are turned.
• tack on
• tack on something
• tag along
• tag along with
• tag along with someone
• tag along with something
• tail between legs
• tail between your legs
• tail end of
• tail end of something
• tail off
• tailor-made
• tailor-made for