| take a beating 1. to be severely defeated in a game or competition. The Knights really took a beating in last night's game. 2. to lose a lot of money. The company took a beating last year, losing about $50 million. 3. to be severely criticized. The president took a beating from environmental groups yesterday. 4. to be damaged by something. The southeast took another beating from the weather yesterday. Related vocabulary: take a licking Etymology: based on the literal meaning of take a beating (= to be hit and badly hurt) |