拐弯抹角 (guǎi wān mò jiǎo) — (figurative) to beat around the bush, to speak indirectly; (literal) to follow a winding path
Definition
A chengyu that literally describes a winding, twisting path but is used almost always in its figurative sense: to speak indirectly or evade the point. Equivalent to 'beat around the bush.'
idiom
(figurative) to beat around the bushto speak indirectly(literal) to follow a winding path
Examples
- ，拐弯抹角。Nǐ yǒu huà jiù zhí shuō, bié guǎi wān mò jiǎo de.If you have something to say, just say it directly — don't beat around the bush.
- 拐弯抹角。Tā guǎi wān mò jiǎo dì àn shì wǒ gāi lí kāi le.He hinted indirectly that I should leave.
- 拐弯抹角，。Zhè tiáo shān lù guǎi wān mò jiǎo, kāi chē yào xiǎo xīn.This mountain road winds and turns — drive carefully.
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