Maybe you’re nervous, or maybe you’re trying to avoid giving a direct answer — if you’re beating around the bush, you’re practicing circumlocution. Using that idiom could also be considered circumlocution, which is the use of many words where fewer would do, especially in an attempt to be evasive. “Circumlocution” is a fairly direct translation from Latin. “Circum” means “around” and “locution” means “speak.” When a speaker is using circumlocution, they’re circling around their point by using too many words.