go all round the houses

Meaning

1. to do sth or ask a question in a very complicated way instead of in a simple, direct way

From the same entry

• bring the house down
• get on like a house on fire
• keep house
• on the house
• put your house in order
• set up house
• clean house
• not a dry eye in the house
• eat out of house and home
• people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
• safe as houses