being roundabout

[ˈbiːɪŋ ˈraʊndəbaʊt]

adjective/adverbial phrase

ser indireto; ser circullocutório

1. Speaking or acting in a way that is not direct; using indirect or circuitous methods to communicate or achieve something

He was being roundabout in his explanation, never getting to the main point.

Ele estava sendo indireto em sua explicação, nunca chegando ao ponto principal.

2. Taking or involving a longer or more complicated route or method than necessary

Why are you being so roundabout? Just tell me what you want.

Por que você está sendo tão indireto? Apenas me diga o que você quer.

NYC Slang

beating around the bush; talking in circles

Synonyms

Antonyms

Regional Variations

General Brazilian

ser indireto; estar dando voltas

Common in everyday speech to describe someone taking too long to explain something

São Paulo

ser enrolador; estar enrolando

Informal usage; suggests someone is wasting time or being evasive

Portugal

ser indireto; estar a dar a volta

Standard usage; similar meaning to Brazilian Portuguese

beating around the bush

talking in circles

going around the houses

taking the long way around

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