not beat around the bush

not beat around the bush

To not speak vaguely or euphemistically; to be frank and direct. Primarily heard in US. Don't beat around the bush—just tell me the truth. I wish they wouldn't beat around the bush like that. If they're going to fire me, then they should just fire me already!
See also: around, beat, bush, not
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

not beat around the bush

BRITISH, AMERICAN or

not beat about the bush

BRITISH
If you don't beat around the bush or don't beat about the bush, you say what you want to say clearly and directly. Let's not beat about the bush. I think these letters are worth a lot to you. Note: In game shooting, beaters drive birds or small animals out of the undergrowth by beating it with sticks. They may have to do this cautiously as they do not know exactly where the birds or animals are.
See also: around, beat, bush, not
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • not beat about the bush
  • beat around the bush
  • beat about the bush
  • pace around hot porridge like a cat
  • up on (one's) ear
  • chip
  • chips
  • Two Bob
  • (as) dead as mutton
  • dead as mutton
References in periodicals archive
Do not beat around the bush. Be forthcoming and tell the hiring manager, recruiter, or human resources professional as soon as possible that you now have decided to decline the offer.
I realized I could not beat around the bush and I had to get straight to the point.
Actor Tony Labrusca did not beat around the bush and admitted that he has anger issues.
Let us not beat around the bush, workers are anxious about their fate because the entire takeover is shrouded in secrecy," said the committee chairman David Pkosing.
He said: "Let's not beat around the bush, David has gone for more money than we could offer him.
Murty, preparing his side for tomorrow's Old Firm showndown, said: "Let's not beat around the bush, David has gone for more money than we can offer him and he could be playing in Bundesliga II next year.
'I will not beat around the bush, refuse it and reject it, because it is not a part of what we believe our integrative policy is.
"Let's not beat around the bush, I think the club would have probably gone if we had dropped out of the Football League.
Let us not beat around the bush. There is really a possibility that there will be no elections because we are preparing for a transition government," the speaker said in a radio interview.
For just PS20m (and let's not beat around the bush, you can barely get a Premier League striker for that!) this ground-breaking centre could be expanded enormously and generate much, much more from commercial activities.
It's a busy month September and let's not beat around the bush, the goal conceded column has got to get a lot better.
Some Trump references did not beat around the bush.
Let's not beat around the bush there's an awful lot of it here, with more than 1,500 rum shops - simple wooden structures where locals gather to drink, with bottles priced at around PS2 for 35cl.
"So let's not beat around the bush, we know how it works here and everyone is entitled to their opinion."