The phrase "beat around the bush" means to avoid getting to the point or to speak indirectly about a subject. 

Its origin is rooted in medieval hunting practices in England. During bird hunting, particularly for game birds like woodcocks, hunters employed assistants to flush birds out of bushes. These assistants would literally beat the bushes with sticks to scare the birds out of hiding and into the open, where hunters could then capture or shoot them. This process involved considerable effort around the bushes without immediately addressing the main goal, which was catching the birds. 

The phrase has been used in literature since at least the 15th century. For example, in the medieval poem "Generydes," the phrase is used to imply avoiding the main point.