📒 to defeat somebody in a game or competition
- beat somebody at something He beat me at chess.
- beat somebody She was narrowly beaten by the German in the final.
- I beat her by just three points.
📒 to do or be better than something
- Nothing beats home cooking.
- You can't beat Italian shoes.
- For a break in the sun, Thailand is hard to beat.
📒 to get control of something
- The government's main aim is to beat inflation.
- Book a break in the sun to try to beat those winter blues.
- He is struggling to beat his addiction.
📒 to be too difficult for somebody
- beat somebody It is a problem that beats even the experts.
- beat somebody why, how, etc… It beats me (= I don't know) why he did it.
- What beats me (= what I don't understand) is how it was done so quickly.
📒 to avoid something
- If we go early we should beat the traffic.
- We were up and off early to beat the heat.
📒 to hit a person hard and many times in order to hurt them
- beat somebody At that time children were regularly beaten for quite minor offences (= as a punishment).
- beat somebody + adv./prep. A man was found beaten to death.
- The prisoners were beaten into submission (= they were beaten until they did what was wanted).
📒 to hit something hard several times
- + adv./prep. Somebody was beating at the door.
- Hailstones beat against the window.
- beat something Someone was beating a drum.
📒 to make, or cause something to make, a regular sound or movement
- She's alive—her heart is still beating.
- His heart started beating faster.
- We heard the drums beating.
📒 to mix something with short quick movements with a fork, etc.
- beat something up Beat the eggs up to a frothy consistency.
- beat something Beat the mixture well, until it is light and creamy.
- Add three eggs, lightly beaten.
📒 to change the shape of something, especially metal, by hitting it with a hammer, etc.
- beat something (out) (into something) The gold is beaten out into thin strips.
- beaten silver
- beat something + adj. The metal had been beaten flat.
📒 to make a path, etc. by walking somewhere or by pressing branches down and walking over them
- a well-beaten track (= one that has been worn hard by much use)
- The hunters beat a path through the undergrowth.
📒 to talk about something for a long time without coming to the main point
- Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.
📒 to defeat or do better than somebody in an activity which they have chosen or in which they think they are strong
📒 to think very hard about something for a long time
- I’ve been beating my brains out all weekend to get this script written.
📒 to show that you feel sorry about something that you have done, especially in public and in an exaggerated way
📒 to finish a task, race, etc. before a particular time
- The player beat the clock and set a new record.
📒 to hit somebody very hard several times and hurt them very much
- Get out or I’ll beat the living daylights out of you!
📒 to waste your effort by trying to do something that is no longer possible
📒 to speak with enthusiasm in support of somebody/something
- She’s really banging the drum for the new system.
📒 to hit somebody/something very hard
- He was a dirty player and loved to kick hell out of the opposition.
📒 to go away immediately
- This is private land, so beat it!
📒 if a lot of people beat a path to somebody’s door, they are all interested in something that person has to sell, or can do or tell them
- Top theatrical agents are beating a path to the teenager's door.
📒 to escape without being punished
📒 to go away or back quickly, especially to avoid something unpleasant
- I decided to beat a hasty retreat.
📒 to mark or follow the rhythm of music, by waving a stick, tapping your foot (= hitting it against the floor), etc.
- She beat time with her fingers.
📒 to get or do something before somebody else can
📒 (to hit somebody until they are) covered with bruises (= blue, brown or purple marks on the body)
📒 used to express surprise or anger
📒 if you cannot defeat somebody 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
📒 far away from other people, houses, etc.
- They live miles off the beaten track.
📒 a fact, an argument, etc. that is used in order to blame or punish somebody
📒 to be difficult to beat
- That score is going to take some beating.
- For sheer luxury, this hotel takes some beating.