Beat Idioms (With Meaning and Examples)

Welcome! Today, we’re going to learn about idioms that use the word “beat.” Idioms are phrases that have a meaning different from the words in them. They make our language more fun and colorful. Let’s explore some common “beat” idioms, what they mean, and see them used in sentences!

Beat Idioms

Here are 20 beat idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.

1. Beat around the bush

Meaning: Avoid saying something directly

Example: He beat around the bush when asked about homework.

2. Beat the clock

Meaning: Finish something before time runs out

Example: She managed to beat the clock and submit her test.

3. Beat a dead horse

Meaning: Waste effort on something settled

Example: Arguing about it now is just beating a dead horse.

4. Beat someone to the punch

Meaning: Do something before someone else

Example: I beat him to the punch and ordered the last pie.

5. Beat the odds

Meaning: Succeed despite difficulties

Example: He beat the odds and won the race.

6. Beat the rap

Meaning: Escape punishment

Example: She beat the rap by proving her innocence.

7. Beat one’s brains out

Meaning: Try very hard to understand

Example: I beat my brains out studying for the exam.

8. Beat the drum

Meaning: Promote enthusiastically

Example: He’s always beating the drum for his favorite charity.

9. March to the beat of your own drum

Meaning: Do things your own way

Example: She marches to the beat of her own drum.

10. Beat the air

Meaning: Make useless efforts

Example: He’s just beating the air with his complaints.

11. Beat a retreat

Meaning: Withdraw or retreat quickly

Example: They beat a retreat when the storm started.

12. Beat into one’s head

Meaning: Force someone to understand

Example: His coach beat the strategy into his head.

13. Beat the heat

Meaning: Stay cool in hot weather

Example: We beat the heat by going swimming.

14. Beat the bushes

Meaning: Search thoroughly

Example: Police are beating the bushes for the lost child.

15. Beat one’s chest

Meaning: Boast or brag

Example: After winning, he was beating his chest with pride.

16. Beat the system

Meaning: Overcome a rigid system

Example: She found a loophole to beat the system.

17. Beat someone black and blue

Meaning: Hurt someone badly

Example: He was beaten black and blue in the fight.

18. Beat a path

Meaning: Go to a place frequently

Example: Fans beat a path to the new café.

19. Beat the living daylights out of someone

Meaning: Hit someone very hard

Example: He threatened to beat the living daylights out of the intruder.

20. Beat it

Meaning: Go away quickly

Example: When he saw the cops, he just beat it.

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Beat Idioms