In English idioms and phrases, choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom "Beat around the bush".

Introduction / Context:
Idioms are fixed expressions whose meanings cannot always be understood from the literal meanings of the individual words. The idiom "beat around the bush" is widely used in conversational and written English, and it frequently appears in competitive exams that test idioms and phrases. Understanding this idiom helps you interpret everyday conversations more accurately.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Idiom: "Beat around the bush".
• Task: Choose the option closest to its figurative meaning.
• Options involve meanings related to walking, cleaning, playing, or avoiding the main point.
• We assume the context is conversational, where someone is not speaking directly.

Concept / Approach:
The idiom "beat around the bush" means to avoid coming directly to the main point, often by talking in a roundabout or indirect way. It can also imply delaying giving a clear answer. The correct option will represent this sense of indirectness or avoidance, not a literal physical action involving a bush or a forest. The approach is to ignore the literal meaning of the words and recall the figurative meaning used in modern English.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the figurative meaning of the idiom from your prior reading and learning. "Beat around the bush" is used when someone avoids stating something clearly. Step 2: Compare this idea with the options provided. Step 3: "Walk around the forest" is purely literal and is not related to communication or conversation. Step 4: "Clean the bushy areas" also describes a physical activity and does not match the idea of indirect speech. Step 5: "Avoiding the main topic" perfectly captures the meaning of speaking indirectly and not addressing the real issue. Step 6: "Play around the forest" is again a literal outdoor activity, unrelated to conversation or discussion.

Verification / Alternative check:
Think of how native speakers use this idiom in sentences: "Stop beating around the bush and come to the point", or "Instead of beating around the bush, tell me what you really think." In both examples, the idiom clearly refers to avoiding directness. None of the literal options about forests or bushes make sense in these sentences, but "avoiding the main topic" aligns perfectly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Walk around the forest: This describes a physical action and has nothing to do with speaking indirectly or avoiding a topic.
• Clean the bushy areas: Again, this is a literal activity, perhaps done by a gardener or cleaner, and does not express a figurative meaning about conversation.
• Play around the forest: This suggests recreational activity in a forest, not indirect speech. It is unrelated to the communicative sense of the idiom.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to interpret idioms literally, especially when the words are concrete images like "bush" or "forest". Exam setters use such options to mislead candidates who are unfamiliar with the idiom. To avoid these traps, study lists of common idioms and observe them in context through reading newspapers, novels, and articles. Recognising the figurative nature of idioms is essential for success in English sections of exams like SSC, banking, and other government tests.

Final Answer:
The idiom "Beat around the bush" means avoiding the main topic.