to avoid talking about what is important
beat around/about the bush
have all the latest and necessary information about sth
be up to speed / stay in the loop
energetic, eager, happy
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
to be a feature of something, especially a feature that cannot be avoided
be part and parcel of sth
to understand that something is likely to be untrue or incorrect
take sth with a pinch of salt