beat around the Busch
To be evasive when questioned as to whether you've been drinking, or when asked if you have an alcohol problem.
It's unfortunate dat da inebriated Ethan Couch wasn't pulled over prior to his crashing into those other vehicles, or said accident might never have happened, since da cop would have seen dat he was very definitely "half in da bag" and prevented him from driving any further... Ethan would likely have performed a classic "beat around the Busch" routine, though, if a cop had asked him if he'd "had a few" that night.