beg the question

1. To assume what has still to be proved: “To say that we should help the region's democratic movement begs the question of whether it really is democratic.”

Idioms and Phrases

Take for granted or assume the truth of the very thing being questioned. For example, Shopping now for a dress to wear to the ceremony is really begging the question—she hasn't been invited yet . This phrase, whose roots are in Aristotle's writings on logic, came into English in the late 1500s. In the 1990s, however, people sometimes used the phrase as a synonym of “ask the question” (as in The article begs the question: “What are we afraid of?” ).

Example Sentences

This begs the question though of why firms don't just make more.

From BBC

It begs the question - why does this keep happening?

From BBC

Which begs the question: Do we need a dramatisation, or indeed two, if you can just watch the real thing?

From BBC

Ben Bolch’s relating of coach Foster’s question of “I just wanted to go for it” regarding the punt on the first drive against Hawaii begs the question: Who’s in charge?

From Los Angeles Times

It begs the question, are we immune north of the border?

From BBC

Related Words

• avoid
• bypass
• circumvent
• conceal
• deceive
• dodge
• elude
• escape
• fend off
• flee
• get around
• hide
• sidestep