To go around the houses

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, with me Feifei.

and me, Rob. Hello!

Rob, I’ve been meaning to ask. you’ve got a car haven’t you?

Yes, Feifei, I have.

Is it a quite special car? You know, a valuable, expensive one?

No no, it’s just an old car - but it gets me around. Why are you asking?

Oh no reason. you don’t use it much do you?

No. Feifei there’s no need to go around the houses - just say what you want to say.

OK. can I borrow your car please? But don’t worry, I won’t take it around the houses - I just want to go to the supermarket.

Ha! Feifei when I said there’s no need ‘to go around the houses’; I wasn’t referring to where you drive my car. I mean, you don’t have to waste time saying lots of unimportant things before you actually say what you want to say.

I see! So I should just say what I want to say - I should get to the point?

Yes, that’s another way of putting it. Basically it means you take a long time to say or do something, when in reality it can be done or said a lot quicker. Let’s hear some examples of the phrase ‘to go around the houses’ in action.

Examples

Don’t go around the houses; just tell me straight, what have you done?

He went all around the houses talking about the match but all I wanted to know was who won?

I didn’t know how to tell him he’d failed his exams so I went all around the houses before I let him know.

So, to go around the houses means you go a long way round before asking what you want to ask. Rob, you haven’t answered my question yet.

Oh yes, what was the question?

Can I borrow your car. please?

Oh well, erm, I need to fill it up with petrol.

Oh right.

And I need to drive to work.

But that’s not until Monday!

It’s not very tidy inside.

Rob - don’t go around the houses - your answer is ‘no’ isn’t it?

Yes Feifei. You can’t borrow it. I crashed it last week - nobody can drive it!

You certainly won’t be going around any houses then Rob!

Very funny Feifei!

Bye!