beast

(that's) the nature of the beast

(That's) the basic, inherent quality or character of something. You get rich quick in the stock market or you can lose your shirt. That's the nature of the beast. Uncertainty in life is just the nature of the beast. You never know what's going to happen next.
See also: beast, nature, of

be (of) no use to man or beast

To be completely useless; to serve no purpose; to be unsuitable to anyone or anything. I admire the intelligence with which you argue your points, friend, but unless you're willing to put your words into action, I'm afraid your philosophizing is of no use to man or beast. After 20 years, my faithful old truck finally broke down for good. It's no use to man or beast anymore.
See also: beast, man, no, use

be no good to man or beast

To be completely useless; to serve no purpose; to be unsuitable to anyone or anything. I admire the intelligence with which you argue your points, friend, but unless you're willing to put your words into action, I'm afraid your philosophizing is no good to man or beast. After 20 years, my faithful old truck finally broke down for good. It's no good to man or beast anymore.
See also: beast, good, man, no

beast of burden

A domesticated animal used by humans to carry or pull heavy loads. Camels have been used by people as beasts of burden for thousands of years because of their size, strength, and ability to travel long distances with minimal need for food and water.
See also: beast, burden, of

beast with two backs

A couple engaged in sexual intercourse, referring to the exposure of each partner's back when embraced in the missionary or standing position. Usually used in the phrase "make the beast with two backs." I have my suspicions that, in secret, they are making the beast with two backs.
See also: back, beast, two

feed the beast

1. In politics, to fund or supplement governmental spending, especially through increased tax revenue. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. Politicians are always looking for new ways to feed the beast, but if we really want the economy to recover, we need to be cutting taxes across the board.
2. To devote or contribute an undue amount of resources, time, or energy to a self-perpetuating pursuit, situation, behavior, or desire. His addiction had become so severe that he sold everything he owned to keep feeding the beast. The country's leaders enlisted every able man to feed the beast of its war of expansion. We're brainwashed from a young age to continue feeding the beast of consumerism.
See also: beast, feed

king of (the) beasts

The lion, especially in cultural or artistic depictions. Engraved in striking marble, the king of beasts stands sentinel over this ancient arena. The king of the beasts is the symbol for the zodiac sign Leo.
See also: beast, king, of

make the beast with two backs

To engage in sexual intercourse with another person, referring to the exposure of each partner's back when embraced in the missionary or standing position. I have my suspicions that, in secret, they are making the beast with two backs.
See also: back, beast, make, two

the nature of the beast

The traits inherent to a thing or situation, especially a negative or difficult one. Unfortunately, exhaustion is just the nature of the beast when you're a new parent. Of course you're scared—that's just the nature of the beast when you make big changes in your life.
See also: beast, nature, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

no use, it's

1. It's impossible; it can't succeed. For example, It's no use; these pieces just don't fit. [c. 1800]
2. Also, it's no use to man or beast. It's worthless, it serves no purpose, as in This car is so old it's no use to man or beast. Also see have no use for.
See also: no
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

no use to man or beast

or

no good to man or beast

LITERARY
If someone or something is no use to man or beast, they are completely useless. Much against his will, he took with him six complete beginners, of no use to man or beast. Note: This is part of the old saying, `When the wind is in the east, 'tis neither good for man nor beast.'
See also: beast, man, no, use

the nature of the beast

If you say that something is the nature of the beast, you mean that it is a part of the character of the person or thing that you are talking about and cannot be avoided. Negotiations always get tougher towards the end. That's the nature of the beast. If you play any sport at this level, you're going to get injured from time to time. That's just the nature of the beast. Note: If you say that someone knows the nature of the beast, you mean that they know or understand a particular person or thing very well. Having served as Secretary of State for Education in Edward Heath's government, she knew the nature of the beast.
See also: beast, nature, of
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

king of beasts

the lion.
See also: beast, king, of

the nature of the beast

the inherent or essential quality or character of something, which cannot be changed and must be accepted. informal
See also: beast, nature, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

be no good/use to ˈman or ˈbeast

(informal) be completely useless: Since the Chernobyl disaster the land round here has been no use to man or beast.
See also: beast, good, man, no, use
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

beast

1. n. an ugly person. That beast should give the monkey back its face before the poor creature bumps into something.
2. n. a crude, violent, or sexually aggressive male; an animal. Oh, Martin, you’re such a beast!
3. n. liquor. Pour me some more of that beast.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • (that's) the nature of the beast
  • the nature of the beast
  • lose (one's) shirt
  • lose one’s shirt
  • lose one's shirt
  • lose shirt
  • lose your shirt
  • clip (something) from (something)
  • clip from
  • clipping
References in classic literature
"Welcome, O King of Beasts! You have come in good time to fight our enemy and bring peace to all the animals of the forest once more."
"We will do that gladly," returned the tiger; and all the other beasts roared with a mighty roar: "We will!"
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Darting to the beast's side, he leaped upon the tawny back.
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
"A quadruped is an animal with four legs--a beast."
The Prairie
The men aboard-ship, he told me, seemed at first just as strange to him as the Beast Men seemed to me,--unnaturally long in the leg, flat in the face, prominent in the forehead, suspicious, dangerous, and cold-hearted.
Island of Doctor Moreau
Bukawai, not yet ready to give his victim to the beasts, rushed upon the hyenas with his knob-stick.
Jungle Tales of Tarzan
What he could guess, however, was that the moment the two officers came within firing distance of the beast they would put an end to him in short order unless something were done and done quickly to prevent.
Son Of Tarzan
He would call all her life beasts from der forests, und dey would come.
From Mine Own People
The infuriated beast, pulled up and backwards until he stood upon his hind legs, struggled impotently in this unnatural position.
Tarzan of the Apes
I was abreast him in a moment and, passing him, walked straight toward the two beasts. As I did so the female crouched with bared fangs.
Pellucidar
Once again he was the jungle beast revelling in bloody conflict with his kind.
The Beasts of Tarzan
Instantly eight or ten of the other beasts leaped to their feet.
The Lost Continent
The beast was lying down as Tarzan approached, but he rose as the ape-man reached his side.
Tarzan the Untamed
Writing the words L'Empereur Napoleon in numbers, it appears that the sum of them is 666, and that Napoleon therefore the beast foretold in the Apocalypse.
War and Peace
At noon the earth began to quake, and opened in many places, and out of the openings appeared lions, tigers, and other wild beasts, which surrounded the castle, and thousands and thousands of beasts came out of the castle following their king, the Seven-headed Serpent.
Yellow Fairy Book