talk in circles
Never reach conclusion
To talk in circles is to speak at length without reaching a conclusion or making a clear point, often revisiting the same ideas without progress.
The phrase suggests wasted effort—movement that returns to where it started: We've been talking in circles for an hour and still haven't decided anything.
Someone may talk in circles to avoid commitment, obscure the truth, or simply from muddled thinking.
- ramblingLong-winded and unfocused
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- obfuscationDeliberate concealment through confusion
- smoke and mirrorsDeceptive obfuscation tactics
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
repeat · misleading · indirect · begging the question · tautology · going nowhere fast · avoidance · defensiveness · hot air · redundancy · filibuster · stonewalling · equivocation · waffling · circumlocution · verbosity · overthinking · mouth
talk in circlesget to the point
Speak directly now
cut to the chase · speak plainly · tell it like it is · lay it on the line · not mince words
talk in circlescome clean
Admit the full truth
speak the truth · lay one's cards on the table · be honest · spill the beans
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