kerülgeti, mint macska a forró kását

Etymology
Literally: “to circle around it like a cat around hot porridge.”

Verb

 * 1)  to be afraid to go close to something (physically)
 * 2)  to beat around the bush to have no courage to do or say something honestly and firmly

Conjugation

 * For the verb, see the definite conjugation of.
 * The rest of the simile remains unchanged.