beat

beat a hasty retreat withdraw, typically in order to avoid something unpleasant.

☞ In former times, a drumbeat could be used to keep soldiers in step while they were retreating.

beat about the bush discuss a matter without coming to the point; be ineffectual and waste time.

☞ This phrase is a metaphor which originated in the shooting or netting of birds; compare with beat the bushes below.

2013Scary Duck Pete was-and let's not beat about the bush-the school git, who lived permanently under the wing of his over-protective mother.

beat someone at their own game use someone's own methods to outdo them in their chosen activity.

beat the bejesus out of someone: seebejesus.

beat your breast: seebreast.

beat the bushes search thoroughly. North American informal

☞ This expression originates from the way in which hunters walk through undergrowth wielding long sticks which are used to force birds or animals out into the open where they can be shot or netted.

beat the clock perform a task quickly or within a fixed time limit.

beat the daylights out of: seedaylight.

beat the drum for: seedrum.

beat the Dutch: seeDutch.

beat someone hollow: seehollow.

beat your (or the) meat (of a man) masturbate. vulgar slang

beat the pants off prove to be vastly superior to. informal

1990Paul AusterThe Music of Chance 'Not bad, kid,' Nashe said. 'You beat the pants off me.'

beat a path to someone's door (of a large number of people) hasten to make contact with someone regarded as interesting or inspiring.

☞ This phrase developed from the idea of a large number of people trampling down vegetation to make a path: compare with off the beaten track (atbeaten).

beat the rap: seerap.

beat the system succeed in finding a means of getting round rules, regulations, or other means of control.

beat someone to it succeed in doing something or getting somewhere before someone else, to their annoyance.

beat someone to the punch: seepunch.

if you can't beat them, join them if you are unable to outdo rivals in some endeavour, you might as well cooperate with them and gain whatever advantage possible by doing so. humorous.

miss a beat: seemiss.

a stick to beat someone or something with: seestick.

to beat the band in such a way as to surpass all competition. North American informal

1995Patrick McCabeThe Dead School He was polishing away to beat the band.