Menare il can per l’aia
To lead the dog around the farmyard
This Italian idiom is used to describe someone who is deliberately wasting time, beating around the bush, or avoiding getting to the point. The phrase paints a picture of someone leading a dog in circles around the farmyard, a pointless activity that doesn’t accomplish anything. The expression suggests that instead of getting straight to the task or the heart of the matter, the person is engaging in futile or distracting actions, often to delay or avoid something.
Esempi
- Non continuare a menare il can per l’aia, dicci subito cosa vuoi. – Stop beating around the bush and just tell us what you want.
- Durante la riunione, ha menato il can per l’aia per un’ora senza arrivare a una conclusione. – During the meeting, he wasted time for an hour without reaching any conclusion.
- Quando non vuole rispondere, inizia sempre a menare il can per l’aia. – When he doesn’t want to answer, he always starts to beat around the bush.