um den heißen Brei herumreden: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  German-speaking countriesneutral
  • Literally, to speak around a hot porridge or pot rather than addressing it directly.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Beim Streit redete er immer um den heißen Brei herum und sagte nie, was wirklich los war.

    During the argument, he always spoke around the hot porridge and never said what was really going on.

  • Sie redete um den heißen Brei herum, anstatt das Problem direkt anzusprechen.

    She beat around the bush instead of addressing the problem directly.

  • Warum redest du ständig um den heißen Brei herum und kommst nicht zum Punkt?

    Why do you constantly beat around the bush and not get to the point?

• 2.

  Standard Germaninformal
  • To avoid addressing the main point; to speak evasively or beat around the bush.

  Examples

  Beta

  • In der Besprechung redete der Chef um den heißen Brei herum und vermied klare Antworten.

    In the meeting, the boss beat around the bush and avoided clear answers.

  • Man sollte nicht um den heißen Brei herumreden, sondern ehrlich seine Meinung sagen.

    One shouldn't beat around the bush but honestly state one's opinion.

  • Sie hat so lange um den heißen Brei herumgeredet, dass wir den Zug verpasst haben.

    She beat around the bush for so long that we missed the train.

• 3.

  • Equivalent of the English idiom "Beat around the bush": 1. To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally. 2. To delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant.