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)

• let it be known
• let it rip
• let it slide
• let nature take its course
• let off
• let off easy
• let off steam
• let off the hook
• let on
• let out
• let out something
• let ride
• let rip
• let's face it
• Let's get the show on the road.
• Let's get this show on the road.
• let sleeping dogs lie
• let slide
• let slip
• let slip something
• let slip through fingers
• let slip through your fingers
• let someone alone
• let someone be
• let someone down