beat /biːt/► SEE ALLbeat about the bushbeat sb at their own gamebeat your brains outbeat the bushesbeat the clockbeat sb/sth hollowbeat itbeat a path to sb’s doorbeat the rapbeat a (hasty) retreatbeat timecan you beat it/that?if you can’t beat them, join thema rod/stick to beat sb withbeat/scare the (living) daylights out of sbbang/beat the drum (for sb/sth)win (sth)/beat sb hands downyour heart misses a beatbeat/knock/kick the hell out of sb/sthbeat/turn swords into ploughshares ●ˌbeat about the ˈbush (BrE) (NAmEˌbeat around the ˈbush) take too long before saying what you want to say; avoid saying sth directly转弯抹角地说；绕圈子◆Don’t beat about the bush. Tell me exactly what you think is wrong with my work. 别转弯抹角的了，直接告诉我你认为我的工作有什么不对。OPPcall a spade a spade●beat sb at their own ˈgamebe more successful than sb in their special activity, sport, etc.; defeat sb using their own methods赢某人的看家本领；在某人拿手的方面超过某人；以其人之道还治其人之身◆If you thought someone was trying to cheat you, would you challenge him or try to beat him at his own game? 如果你认为有人企图欺骗你，你会质问他还是以其人之道还治其人之身？●beat your ˈbrains out (informal, especially NAmE) think very hard about sth for a long time绞尽脑汁；费尽心思；反复推敲◆I was beating my brains out all weekend trying to write the script. 整个周末我都在绞尽脑汁写脚本。●beat the ˈbushes (especially NAmE) try very hard to find, obtain or achieve sth到处寻觅；努力获取◆Telephone companies are beating the bushes for new customers. 各电话公司正在竭尽全力争取新客户。●beat the ˈclockfinish a task, race, etc. before a particular time提前完成任务（或比赛等）●beat sb/sth ˈhollowbeat sb easily in a contest, etc.; be much better than sb/sth（在竞赛等中）把某人打得落花流水，彻底打败；远远胜过◆As a cook he beats the professionals hollow. 他的厨艺远远胜过那些专业厨师。●ˈbeat it (informal) (usually used as a command通常用作命令) go away走开；滚◆You’re not wanted here, so beat it. 这里不欢迎你，走开。●beat a path to sb’s ˈdoorif a lot of people beat a path to sb’s door, they are all interested in sth that person has to sell, or can do or tell them纷纷前往；纷纷把目光投向◆Top theatrical agents are beating a path to the teenager’s door. 顶尖的演艺经纪人纷纷把目光投向那个十几岁的少年。●beat the ˈrap (NAmE, slang) escape without being punished逃脱惩罚◆This time he didn’t beat the rap, and got three years in jail for robbery. 这一次他没有逃脱惩罚，因抢劫罪被判三年监禁。●beat a (hasty) reˈtreatgo away quickly from sb/sth（仓皇）撤退；（匆匆）离开◆I had a terrible headache from all the noise and smoke at the party, so my wife and I beat a hasty retreat. 聚会上的噪音和烟味搞得我头疼难忍，所以我和妻子匆匆离开了。ORIGINIn the past, the beat of a drum was sometimes used to keep soldiers marching in the same rhythm when they were retreating (= moving away from the enemy).旧时，有时用敲鼓让士兵在撤退时保持步伐一致。●beat ˈtimeshow the rhythm of a piece of music by striking sth, moving your hands, etc.（随着音乐节奏）打拍子◆She beat time with her fingers. 她用手指打着拍子。●ˌcan you ˈbeat it/ˈthat? (spoken) used to express disbelief, surprise, annoyance, etc.（表示不相信、惊讶、恼怒等）竟有这等事，岂非咄咄怪事◆Can you beat that? He’s just broken another glass. 你说怪不怪？他刚才又打碎了一只玻璃杯。●if you can’t ˈbeat them, ˈjoin them (saying) if you cannot defeat sb or be as successful as they are, then it is more sensible to join them in what they are doing and perhaps get some advantage for yourself by doing so如果不能打败他们，就和他们联合；打不赢，就加入◆Everybody else seems to be leaving early today, so I think I will too. After all, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! 今天似乎其他人都要早走，我也只得早走。无可奈何之事，只好随大溜！●a rod/stick to ˈbeat sb witha fact, an argument, etc. that is used in order to blame or punish sb（用以怪罪或惩罚某人的）事实依据，理由◆The results of the national exams this year are being used as another stick to beat teachers with. 今年全国统考的成绩被用作老师的另一罪状。●beat/scare the (living) ˈdaylights out of sb (informal) hit sb/sth very hard and repeatedly; frighten sb very much把某人狠揍一顿；死命击打某物；把某人吓得灵魂出窍◆He said if I did it again he’d beat the living daylights out of me!他说要是我再这样的话就狠狠揍我一顿！◆I don’t think I’ll go to see that new horror film at the cinema. Jane said it scared the daylights out of her.我想我不会去电影院看那部新上映的恐怖片，简说她差点被吓死。●bang/beat the ˈdrum (for sb/sth) (especially BrE) speak with enthusiasm in support of sb/sth（为…）鼓吹，摇旗呐喊◆She’s really banging the drum for the new system.她拼命为新制度摇旗呐喊。●win (sth)/beat sb ˌhands ˈdownwin (sth)/beat sb very easily轻易取胜◆Holland won the match hands down. The score was five nil.荷兰队赢得易如反掌，比分是 5: 0。●your ˌheart misses a ˈbeatused to say that you have a sudden feeling of fear, excitement, etc.（因惊恐、兴奋等）心跳停了一下◆For a moment she thought she saw the dead man’s face looking in through the window and her heart missed a beat.有一瞬间，她以为自己看见那个死去的人的脸从窗外往里看，吓得心都停跳了一下。●beat/knock/kick the ˈhell out of sb/sth (informal) ( beat/knock/kick the ˈshit out of sb/sth⚠, slang) beat, etc. sb/sth very hard猛击；狠打◆If the crowd had managed to get hold of the robber, they would have beaten the hell out of him.要是人们抓住了强盗，一定会把他狠揍一顿。◆The gang knocked the hell out of him for no reason at all.那帮人无缘无故地痛打了他一顿。●beat/turn swords into ˈploughshares (literary) stop fighting and return to peaceful activities铸剑为犁；化干戈为玉帛ORIGINThis comes from the Bible. A ploughshare is a blade that forms part of a plough(= a large piece of farming equipment used for cutting the soil).这个习语源于《圣经》。犁铧（ploughshare）是犁（plough）上的刀片。