The form beat is used in the present tense and is the past tense. beat 的过去式与原形相同。
1
[VERB 动词]打；猛击 If you beat someone or something, you hit them very hard.
[V n]
[V n to n]
My wife tried to stop them and they beat her...
我妻子想阻止他们，他们就打了她。
They were beaten to death with baseball bats.
他们被人用棒球棒打死了。
2
[VERB 动词]（通常指多次或连续地）撞击，猛撞，拍打 To beat on, at, or against something means to hit it hard, usually several times or continuously for a period of time.
[V against n]
[V at n]
[V on n]
[Also V n]
[usu the N of n]
There was dead silence but for a fly beating against the glass...
当时一片寂静，只听见一只苍蝇不停地撞击着玻璃。
Nina managed to free herself and began beating at the flames with a pillow...
尼娜好不容易挣脱出来，拿起枕头用力扑打火焰。
The rain was beating on the windowpanes.
雨点拍打着窗玻璃。
Beat is also a noun.
...the rhythmic beat of the surf.
海浪有节奏的拍打
beating
...the silence broken only by the beating of the rain.
一片寂静，只听见雨声
3
[VERB 动词]（心脏、脉搏等）跳动 When your heart or pulse beats, it continually makes regular rhythmic movements.
[V]
I felt my heart beating faster.
我感觉我的心越跳越快。
Beat is also a noun.
He could hear the beat of his heart...
他能听见自己的心跳声。
Most people's pulse rate is more than 70 beats per minute.
大多数人的脉率都在每分钟70次以上。
beating
I could hear the beating of my heart.
我能听见自己的心跳。
4
[V-ERG 及物/不及物动词]敲，打，击（鼓等）；（鼓等）敲响 If you beat a drum or similar instrument, you hit it in order to make a sound. You can also say that a drum beats .
[V n]
[V]
When you beat the drum, you feel good.
敲鼓的时候感觉很好。
...drums beating and pipes playing.
敲鼓和吹风笛
Beat is also a noun.
...the rhythmical beat of the drum.
有节奏的鼓点
5
[N-COUNT 可数名词]（音乐的）节奏 The beat of a piece of music is the main rhythm that it has.
[usu sing]
...the thumping beat of rock music.
摇滚乐强烈的节奏
...the dance beats of the last two decades.
过去20年的舞曲节奏
6
[N-COUNT 可数名词]See also:
upbeat
；
downbeat
；（音乐的）拍子，节拍 In music, a beat is a unit of measurement. The number of beats in a bar of a piece of music is indicated by two numbers at the beginning of the piece.
[usu pl]
It's got four beats to a bar.
一个小节有4拍。
7
[VERB 动词]搅拌；搅打 If you beat eggs, cream, or butter, you mix them thoroughly using a fork or beater.
[V n]
Beat the eggs and sugar until they start to thicken.
把鸡蛋和白糖混在一起搅打至开始变稠。
8
[V-ERG 及物/不及物动词]拍打，拍动（翅膀）；（翅膀）拍动 When a bird or insect beats its wings or when its wings beat, its wings move up and down.
[V n]
[V]
Beating their wings they flew off...
它们拍打着翅膀飞走了。
Its wings beat slowly.
它的翅膀缓慢拍动着。
9
[VERB 动词]打败；击败；战胜 If you beat someone in a competition or election, you defeat them.
[V n]
[V n into n]
In yesterday's games, Switzerland beat the United States two-one...
在昨天的比赛中，瑞士以2比1击败美国。
There are men who simply don't like being beaten by a woman...
有些男人就是不想被女人打败。
She was easily beaten into third place.
她轻易落败，跌至第三。
10
[VERB 动词]打破（纪录等）；超过； 突破 If someone beats a record or achievement, they do better than it.
[V n]
He was as eager as his Captain to beat the record.
他和队长一样渴望打破这项纪录。
11
[VERB 动词]战胜（某个组织、问题、疾病等） If you beat something that you are fighting against, for example an organization, a problem, or a disease, you defeat it.
[V n]
It became clear that the Union was not going to beat the government...
情况已然明朗，工会无法和政府抗衡。
They recognise that tough action offers the only hope of beating inflation...
他们认识到这一严厉举措是战胜通货膨胀的唯一希望。
Kate Jackson is expecting her first child at 43—two years after beating breast cancer.
凯特·杰克逊在43岁的时候怀上了第一个孩子——那时她战胜乳腺癌已经有两年了。
12
[VERB 动词]（常指暂时）击退，中断，中止 If an attack or an attempt is beaten off or is beaten back, it is stopped, often temporarily.
[be V-ed adv]
[V adv n]
[usu passive]
The rescuers were beaten back by strong winds and currents...
救援人员因风浪太大而被迫中断工作。
South Africa's ruling National Party has beaten off a right-wing challenge.
南非执政的国民党已经击退了右翼分子的一次挑战。
13
[VERB 动词]好于；优于；胜于 If you say that one thing beats another, you mean that it is better than it.
[V n]
[no cont]
[INFORMAL 非正式]
Being boss of a software firm beats selling insurance...
当软件公司的老板比卖保险强多了。
Nothing quite beats the luxury of soaking in a long, hot bath at the end of a tiring day...
辛苦一天之后美美地泡个热水澡比什么都强。
For an evening stroll the beach at Dieppe is hard to beat.
傍晚散步去迪耶普的海滩简直是不二之选。
14
[VERB 动词]没有比…更好的；什么也比不上；最好的莫过于 If you say you can't beat a particular thing you mean that it is the best thing of its kind.
[V n]
[no cont]
You can't beat soap and water for cleansing.
做清洁没有比用肥皂和水更好的了。
15
[VERB 动词]赶在…前面；抢先 To beat a time limit or an event means to achieve something before that time or event.
[V n]
They were trying to beat the midnight deadline...
他们要努力赶在午夜的最后期限之前完成。
Those who shop on Sunday to beat the rush are wasting their time.
那些为了在抢购高峰前下手而在星期天购物的人是在浪费时间。
16
[N-COUNT 可数名词]（警察的）辖区，巡逻区；（记者的）负责采访的区域 A police officer's or journalist's beat is the area for which he or she is responsible.
The team police get to know the people in their patrol areas better than cops who must cover a larger beat.
小分队的警察比那些负责大片区域的警察更了解自己管片的群众。
17
[VERB 动词]把…难住；使不明白；使无法解释 You use beat in expressions such as 'It beats me' or 'What beats me is' to indicate that you cannot understand or explain something.
[V n]
[INFORMAL 非正式]
[SPOKEN 口语]
'What am I doing wrong, anyway?' — 'Beats me, Lewis.'...
“不管怎样，我到底做错了什么？”——“这我也不知道，刘易斯。”
How you can be so insensitive absolutely beats me.
我真搞不懂你怎么会这么麻木。
18
[PHRASE 短语]滚开；走开 If you tell someone to beat it, you are telling them to go away.
[INFORMAL 非正式]
[SPOKEN 口语]
Beat it before it's too late.
趁早滚开。
19
[CONVENTION 惯用语]（表示惊讶或恼怒）竟然有这种事？岂有此理！ You can say Can you beat it? or Can you beat that? to show that you are surprised and perhaps annoyed about something.
[feelings]
[INFORMAL 非正式]
Can you beat it； there was Graham Greene in Freetown and there was I on the other side of Africa.
真是岂有此理！格雷厄姆·格林在弗里敦，而我却在非洲的另一边。
20
See also:
beaten
；
beaten-up
；
beating
；
beat-up
；
21
[PHRASE 短语]比…抢先行动；赶在…前面（做某事） If you intend to do something but someone beats you to it, they do it before you do.
[V inflects]
Don't be too long about it or you'll find someone has beaten you to it.
别拖得太久，不然就会有人捷足先登了。
22
[PHRASE 短语]打不过，就入伙If you can't beat them, join them means that, if someone is too strong for you to defeat, it is better to be on the same side as them.
[INFORMAL 非正式]
23
[PHRASE 短语]停顿；犹豫 If you say or do something without missing a beat, you continue to speak or do it, even though people might have expected you to hesitate or stop.
'Are you jealous?' — 'Only when I'm not in control,' he says, not missing a beat.
“你眼红吗？”——“除非我把持不住自己，”他毫不犹豫地说道。
24
[PHRASE 短语]错失机会 If you say that someone never misses a beat, you mean that they always know what is going on and how they can take advantage of it.
Skye has scarcely missed a beat as one of the Gold Coast's spectacular models since her marriage.
丝凯作为黄金海岸大红大紫的模特儿，自结婚以后从来就没有错失过任何机会。
25
[PHRASE 短语]（警察）值勤，当班，巡逻 A police officer on the beat is on duty, walking around the area for which he or she is responsible.
[usu n PHR]
The officer on the beat picks up information； hears cries for help； makes people feel safe.
值勤警员注意观察情况，对救援呼叫及时反应，确保让百姓有一种安全感。
26
[PHRASE 短语]打拍子 If you beat time to a piece of music, you move your hand or foot up and down in time with the music. A conductor beats time to show the choir or orchestra how fast they should sing or play the music.
[V inflects]
He beats time with hands and feet.
他手脚并用地打着拍子。
27
to beat someone black and blue→see:
black
； to beat someone's brains out→see:
brain
； to beat one's breast→see:
breast
； to beat about the bush→see:
bush
； to beat the clock→see:
clock
； to beat or knock the living daylights out of someone→see:
daylights
； to beat the drum for someone or something→see:
drum
； to beat someone at their own game→see:
game
； to beat a retreat→see:
retreat
； to beat a retreat→see:
kick or knock the shit out of someone
； to beat→see:
shit
； a stick to beat someone with→see:
stick
；
beating-up
There had been no violence, no beatings-up until then.
在那之前没有动粗打人。
相关词组：
beat down
beat out
beat out of
beat up
beat up on
Oxford
beat★/biːt; NAmEbiːt/
verb
,
noun
,
adjective
beatbeatsbeatingbeatenverb★(beat,beaten/ˈbiːtn; NAmEˈbiːtn/)in game 比赛1★[transitive ]beatsb (at sth) to defeat sb in a game or competition （在比赛或竞争中）赢，打败（某人）SYN
defeat
◆He beat me at chess.他下棋赢了我。◆Their recent wins have proved they're still the ones to beat(= the most difficult team to beat).他们最近的胜利已证明，他们仍然是最难打败的队。control 控制2★[transitive ]beatsth ( informal) to get control of sth 控制◆The government's main aim is to beat inflation.政府的主要目标是抑制通货膨胀。be too difficult 太难3★[transitive ]( informal) to be too difficult for sb 难倒SYN
defeat
beatsb ◆a problem that beats even the experts连专家都难以解决的问题beatsb why, how, etc… ◆It beats me(= I don't know)why he did it. 我弄不懂他为什么这样做。◆What beats meis how it was done so quickly (= I don't understand how).使我困惑不解的是，这事怎么这么快就完成了。be better 更好4★[transitive ]beatsth ( rather informal) to do or be better than sth 比…更好；赛过；胜过◆Nothing beatshome cooking. 什么也比不上家里做的好吃。◆You can't beatItalian shoes. 意大利鞋是无与伦比的。◆They want to beat thespeed record(= go faster than anyone before).他们想打破这一速度纪录。avoid 避免5[transitive ]beatsth ( informal) to avoid sth 避免；逃避◆If we go early we should beat the traffic.我们早点出发应该就可以避开交通拥挤。◆We were up and off early to beat the heat.我们很早就起床出发了，趁天还没热。hit 击打6★[intransitive , transitive ]to hit sb/sth many times, usually very hard 敲打；锤砸+ adv./prep.◆Somebody was beating at the door.有人在打门。◆Hailstones beat against the window.冰雹不断地砸在窗户上。beatsth ◆Someone was beating a drum.有人在敲鼓。beatsth + adv./prep. ◆She was beating dust out of the carpet (= removing dust from the carpet by beating it).她正在拍掉地毯上的灰尘。beatsb ◆At that time children were regularly beaten for quite minor offences (= a punishment).那时候孩子们常常因为很小的过错而捱打。beatsb + adv./prep. ◆An elderly man was found beaten to death.有人发现一名老翁被打死了。beatsb + adj. ◆They beat him unconscious (= hit him until he became unconscious).他们把他打得不省人事。of heart/drums/wings 心脏；鼓；翅膀7★[intransitive , transitive ]to make, or cause sth to make, a regular sound or movement （使）规律作响，作节奏运动◆She's alive—her heart isstill beating.她没死 — 她的心还在跳动。◆We heard the drums beating.我们听到鼓声。◆The bird was beating its wings(= moving them up and down)frantically. 鸟儿没命地扑着翅膀。mix 搅拌8★[transitive ]to mix sth with short quick movements with a fork, etc. （用叉等）快速搅拌，打beatsth (up) ◆Beat the eggs up to a frothy consistency.把鸡蛋打成黏稠泡沫状。beatA and B together ◆Beat the flour and milk together.把面粉和牛奶搅拌在一起。shape metal 使金属成形9[transitive ]to change the shape of sth, especially metal, by hitting it with a hammer, etc. 把（金属等）锤成；敲打（成…）beatsth (out) (into sth) ◆beaten silver银箔◆The gold is beaten out into thin strips.金子被锤成了薄薄的长条。beatsth + adj. ◆The metal had been beaten flat.那块金属被锤薄了。make path 开辟路径10[transitive ]beatsth (through, across, along, etc. sth) to make a path, etc. by walking somewhere or by pressing branches down and walking over them 踏出，踩出（道路）◆a well-beaten track (= one that has been worn hard by much use)经过很多人踏出来的路◆The hunters beat a path through the undergrowth.猎人们在灌木丛中踩出了一条小径。IDIOMSbeat about the ˈbush( BrE) (NAmEbeat around the ˈbush)to talk about sth for a long time without coming to the main point 拐弯抹角地讲话；绕圈子◆Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.别绕来绕去了，告诉我你想要什么吧。beat sb at their own ˈgameto defeat or do better than sb in an activity which they have chosen or in which they think they are strong 赢某人的看家本领；打败某人的强项beat your ˈbrains out( informal) ( especially NAmE) to think very hard about sth for a long time 绞尽脑汁；反复推敲beat your ˈbreastto show that you feel sorry about sth that you have done, especially in public and in an exaggerated way 捶胸顿足（尤指对自己的作为刻意表示悲伤或愧疚）beat the ˈclockto finish a task, race, etc. before a particular time 提前完成任务（或跑到终点等）ˈbeat it( slang) ( usually used in orders 通常用于命令) to go away immediately 滚开；立即走开◆This is private land, so beat it!这里是私人土地，滚开！beat a path to sb's ˈdoorif a lot of people beat a path to sb's door,they are all interested in sth that person has to sell, or can do or tell them 使门庭若市；蜂拥而至；使成注意焦点◆Top theatrical agents are beating a path to the teenager's door.顶尖级戏剧演员代理人正纷纷把目光投向那个青少年。beat the ˈrap( NAmE) ( slang) to escape without being punished 逃脱惩罚beat a (hasty) reˈtreatto go away or back quickly, especially to avoid sth unpleasant （仓促）逃走；（慌忙）撤退beat ˈtime (to sth)to mark or follow the rhythm of music, by waving a stick, tapping your foot, etc. （随着音乐）打拍子◆She beat time with her fingers.她用手指打拍子。beat sb to the ˈpunch( informal) to get or do sth before sb else can 抢先下手；抢在前面can you beat that/it!( informal) used to express surprise or anger 难以置信；太不像话if you can't beat them, ˈjoin them( saying) if you cannot defeat sb 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 打不赢，就投靠ˌoff the ˌbeaten ˈtrackfar away from other people, houses, etc. 远离闹市；偏远◆They live miles off the beaten track.他们住在偏远地带。a rod/stick to ˈbeat sb witha fact, an argument, etc. that is used in order to blame or punish sb 用以责备或惩罚某人的事实依据（或把柄等）take some ˈbeatingto be difficult to beat 难以超越◆That score is going to take some beating.那一得分将很难超过。◆For sheer luxury, this hotel takes some beating.单看豪华的程度，这家旅馆是难以超越的。☞more at
black
adj.,
daylights
,
drum
n.,
hell
PHRASAL VERBSˌbeat sth↔ˈdownto hit a door, etc. many times until it breaks open 砸开，砸破（门等）ˌbeat ˈdown (on sb/sth)if the sun beats downit shines with great heat （阳光）强烈照射，曝晒ˌbeat sb/sth ˈdown (to sth)to persuade sb to reduce the price at which they are selling sth 说服某人降价；杀价◆He wanted $8 000 for the car but I beat him down to $6 000.他那辆汽车要价 8 000 元，但我压到了 6 000 元。◆I beat down the price to $6 000.我把价杀到了 6 000 元。ˌbeat ˈoff( NAmE) ( taboo,slang) to masturbate手淫ˌbeat sb/sth↔ˈoffto force sb/sth back or away by fighting 击退；驱走◆The attacker was beaten off.袭击者被击退了。◆She beat off a challenge to her leadership.她战胜了对她的领导地位的挑战。ˈbeat on sb= beat up on sbˌbeat sth↔ˈout1to produce a rhythm by hitting sth many times 敲打出节奏2to put a fire out by beating 扑打灭（火）◆We beat the flames out.我们把火扑打灭了。3to remove sth by hitting it with a hammer,etc. 敲掉；锤平◆They can beat out the dent in the car's wing.他们能把汽车挡泥板上的凹痕敲平。ˌbeat sth ˈout of sbto hit sb until they tell you what you want to know 殴打某人逼其说出ˈbeat sb out of sth( NAmE) ( informal) to cheat sb by taking sth from them （从某人）骗取，骗得◆Her brother beat her out of $200.她哥哥骗走了她 200 元。ˈbeat sb to sth/… | ˌbeat sb ˈto itto get somewhere or do sth before sb else 抢先；捷足先登◆She beat me to the top of the hill.她比我先到达山顶。◆I was about to take the last cake, but he beat me to it.我正要拿那最后一块饼，却给他抢先一步。★ˌbeat sb↔ˈupto hit or kick sb hard, many times 痛殴；毒打◆He was badly beaten up by a gang of thugs.他被一帮暴徒打得遍体鳞伤。ˌbeat ˈup on sb(alsoˈbeat on sb)( NAmE) to blame sb too much for sth 过分责备◆Don't beat up on Paul, he tried his best.不要过分责备保罗，他已经尽力了。ˌbeat yourself ˈup (about/over sth)(alsoˌbeat ˈup on yourself (about/over sth))( NAmE) ( informal) to blame yourself too much for sth （为某事）过分自责◆Look, there's no need to beat yourself up over this.听我说，没有必要为此过分自责。noun★of drums/heart/wings 鼓；心脏；翅膀1★[countable ]a single blow to sth, such as a drum, or a movement of sth, such as your heart; the sound that this makes （鼓的）一击；（翅的）一振；（心脏等的）跳动；击鼓声；振翅声；跳动声◆several loud beats on the drum几下隆隆鼓声◆( figurative) His heart missed a beat when he saw her.他在见到她的一刹那心跳顿了一下。2★[singular ]a series of regular blows to sth, such as a drum; the sound that this makes 有规律的敲击（声）◆the steady beat of the drums有节奏的敲鼓声☞see also
heartbeat
rhythm 节奏3★[countable ]the main rhythm, or a unit of rhythm, in a piece of music, a poem, etc. （音乐、诗歌等的）主节奏，节拍◆This type of music has a strong beat to it.这种音乐节奏感很强。◆The piece has four beats to the bar.这首曲子每小节四拍。of police officer 警察4[countable , usually singular ]the area that a police officer walks around regularly and which he or she is responsible for （警察）巡逻地段◆More police officers out on the beatmay help to cut crime. 增加巡逻的警察可能有助于减少罪行。IDIOMsee
heart
,
march
v.,
walk
v.adjective[not before noun ]( informal) =
dead beat
SYNONYMS 同义词辨析beatbatter ◆pound ◆lash ◆hammer These words all mean to hit sb/sth many times, especially hard. 以上各词均含多次击打之义，尤指用力打。■beatto hit sb/sth a lot of times, especially very hard 指反复敲打、使劲锤砸：◆Someone was beating at the door.有人在打门。◆A young man was found beaten to death last night.昨天夜里有人发现一名小伙子被打死了。◆At that time, children were often beaten for quite minor offences (= as a punishment).那时候孩子们常常因为很小的过错而捱打。■batterto hit sb/sth hard a lot of times, especially in a way that causes serious damage 指连续猛击，尤指造成伤害或破坏：◆He had been badly battered around the head and face.他被打得鼻青脸肿。◆Severe winds have been battering the coast.狂风一直在海岸肆虐。■poundto hit sb/sth hard a lot of times, especially in a way that makes a lot of noise 指连续猛击，尤指发出砰砰的撞击声：◆Heavy rain pounded on the roof.暴雨砰砰地砸在屋顶上。■lashto hit sb/sth with a lot of force 指猛击、狠打：◆The rain lashed at the window.雨点猛烈地打在窗户上。NOTEThe subject of lashis often rain, wind, hail, seaor waves.*lash 的主语常为 rain、wind、hail、sea 或 waves。 ■hammerto hit sb/sth hard a lot of times, in a way that is noisy or violent 指大声、猛烈地反复敲打、连续击打：◆He hammered the door with his fists.他不断地用拳头擂门。pound or hammer? 用 pound 还是 hammer？There is not much difference in meaning between these two, but to poundis sometimes a steadier action. To hammercan be more violent and it is often used figuratively. 这两个词意思差别不大，但 pound 有时指较匀速而稳定地击打； hammer 更猛烈，且常用作比喻。PATTERNS◆to beat/batter/pound/lash/hammer sb/sth withsth ◆to beat/batter/pound/lash/hammer againststh ◆to beat/batter/pound/hammer onsth ◆to beat/batter/hammer sth down◆the rain / rain beats/batters/pounds/lashes (at) sth beat/biːt; NAmEbiːt/beaten/ˈbiːtn; NAmEˈbiːtn/
1competition/election [transitive] to get the most points, votes etc in a game, race, or competitionSYN defeat: Brazil were beaten 2–1. Labour easily beat the Conservatives in the last election.beat somebody at/in something I beat him more often at pool than he beats me.beat somebody hollow British English, beat the pants off somebody American English (=defeat them easily)2hit [transitive] to hit someone or something many times with your hand, a stick etc: photographs of rioters beating a policeman He was questioned and beaten. The woman had been beaten to death by her husband. Two prisoners were beaten unconscious.beat somebody black and blue (=hit someone until it makes marks on their body)beat the living daylights out of somebody (=beat someone very hard)► see thesaurus at
hit
3hit against [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to hit against something many times or continuouslybeat on/against/at etc Waves beat against the cliffs. rain beating on the windows Sid beat on the door with his hand.4do better [transitive] to do something better, faster etc than what was best beforebeat a record/score etc The record set by Kierson in '84 has yet to be beaten. The company’s profits are unlikely to beat last year’s £10 million.5be better [transitive not in progressive] especially spoken to be much better and more enjoyable than something else: Fresh milk beats powdered milk any time.beat doing something ‘Well,’ said Culley, ‘it beats going to the office.’You can’t beat swimming as a good all-body exercise.Nothing beats homemade cake.you can’t beat something (for something) For excitement, you just can’t beat college basketball.6food [intransitive, transitive] to mix things together quickly with a fork or special kitchen machine: Beat the eggs, then add the milk.beat something in Gradually beat in the sugar.beat something together Beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy.► see thesaurus at
mix
7control/deal with [transitive] to successfully deal with a problem that you have been struggling withSYN conquer: advice on how to beat depression the government’s long fight to beat inflation8heart [intransitive] when your heart beats, it moves in a regular rhythm as it pumps your blood: The average person’s heart beats 70 times a minute. Jennifer’s heart was beating fast.9drums [intransitive, transitive] if you beat drums, or if drums beat, they make a regular continuous sound10wings [intransitive, transitive] if a bird beats its wings, or if its wings beat, they move up and down quickly and regularlySYN flap11take some beating if something or someone will take some beating, it will be difficult for anyone or anything to be or do better: Raikkonen has 42 points, which will take some beating. Florida takes some beating as a vacation destination.12avoid [transitive] to avoid situations in which a lot of people are trying to do something, usually by doing something early: We left at four a.m. to beat the traffic. Shopping by mail order lets you beat the queues. Shop now and beat the Christmas rush!13do before somebody else [transitive] informal to get or do something before someone else, especially if you are both trying to do it firstbeat somebody to something John had beaten me to the breakfast table. I wanted the last piece of pie, but somebody beat me to it. They wanted to make it into a film, but another studio beat them to the punch.14beat about/around the bush to avoid or delay talking about something embarrassing or unpleasant: Don’t beat around the bush. Ask for your account to be paid, and paid quickly.15beat the system to find ways of avoiding or breaking the rules of an organization, system etc, in order to achieve what you want: Accountants know a few ways to beat the system.16beat a path to somebody’s door (also beat down somebody’s door) if people beat a path to your door, they are interested in something you are selling, a service you are providing etc: The new design was supposed to have consumers beating a path to their door.17beat a (hasty) retreat to leave somewhere or stop doing something very quickly, in order to avoid a bad situation: He beat a hasty retreat when he spotted me.18beat the clock to finish something very quickly, especially before a particular time: The company managed to beat the clock on delivering its new system.SPOKEN PHRASES19(it) beats me used to say that you do not know something, or cannot understand or explain it: Beats me why he wants such a big car. ‘What’s he saying?’ ‘Beats me.’20beat it! used to tell someone to leave at once, because they are annoying you or should not be there21can you beat that/it? used to show that you are surprised or annoyed by something: They’ve got eight children! Can you beat that?22beat your brains out to think about something very hard and for a long time: I’ve been beating my brains out all week trying to finish this essay.23if you can’t beat 'em, join 'em used when you decide to take part in something even though you disapprove of it, because everyone else is doing it and you cannot stop them24beat the rap American English informal to avoid being punished for something you have done25beat time to make regular movements or sounds to show the speed at which music should be played: a conductor beating time with his baton26beat a path/track to make a path by walking over an area of land27to beat the band American English informal in large amounts or with great force: It’s raining to beat the band.28beat the heat American English informal to make yourself cooler: Fresh lemonade is a great way to beat the heat.29metal (also beat out) [transitive] to hit metal with a hammer in order to shape it or make it thinner30hunting [intransitive, transitive] to force wild birds and animals out of bushes, long grass etc so that they can be shot for sport31beat your breast literary to show clearly that you are very upset or sorry about something →
beaten
, beating
COLLOCATIONSadverbseasily beat somebody· Jason easily beats me at chess every time we play.narrowly beat somebody (=by only a few points, votes etc)· New Zealand narrowly beat the Springboks in South Africa.comfortably beat somebody (=by more than a few points, votes etc)· He comfortably beat the second placed candidate.soundly beat somebody (=by a lot of points, votes etc)· In each event she soundly beat her opponents.beat somebody hands down (=beat someone very easily)· He should be able to beat them all hands down.comprehensively beat somebody (=by a lot of points, votes etc)· There’s no point trying to offer excuses as to why we were so comprehensively beaten.convincingly beat somebody (=in a way that clearly shows someone deserves to win)· Mexico convincingly beat Brazil 2–0.phrasesbeat somebody into second/third etc place· He was beaten into second place in the Monaco Grand Prix.THESAURUSbeat to get more points, votes etc than someone. Beat is used especially in spoken English: · We should have beaten them easily.· I always beat my brother at tennis.defeat to beat someone. Defeat is more formal than beat and is used especially in writing: · England were defeated by 2 goals to 1.· Bush defeated Kerry in the election.trounce /traʊns/ to defeat someone completely in a game: · They were trounced 20–0 by Kuwait.thrash British English informal, cream American English informal to beat someone very easily in a game: · Of course, they totally creamed the other team.· I hope we thrash them!wipe the floor with somebody informal to beat someone completely in a game or argument: · She wiped the floor with her opponent in the debate.· They won a £1,000 prize after wiping the floor with the opposition in a bowling competition.beat down phrasal verb1if the sun beats down, it shines very brightly and the weather is hot2if the rain beats down, it is raining very hard3beat the door down to hit a door so hard that it falls down4beat somebody down British English to persuade someone to reduce a pricebeat down to He wanted £4,500 for the car, but I beat him down to £3,850.5beat somebody ↔ down to make someone feel defeated, so they no longer respect themselves: The women seemed beaten down.beat off phrasal verb1beat somebody/something ↔ off to succeed in defeating someone who is attacking, opposing, or competing with you: McConnell beat off a challenge for his Senate seat.2 American English informal not polite if a man beats off, he masturbatesbeat out phrasal verb1if a drum or something else beats out a rhythm, or if you beat out a rhythm on a drum, it makes a continuous regular sound2especially American English to defeat someone in a competition: Lockheed beat out a rival company to win the contract.beat out for Roberts beat out Tony Gwynn for the Most Valuable Player Award.3to put out a fire by hitting it many times with something such as a clothbeat up phrasal verb1beat somebody ↔ up to hurt someone badly by hitting them: Her boyfriend got drunk and beat her up.2beat up on somebody American English to hit someone and harm them, especially someone younger or weaker than yourself3 beat yourself up (also beat up on yourself American English) informal to blame yourself too much for something: If you do your best and you lose, you can’t beat yourself up about it.
beat1 verb
beat2 noun
beat3 adjective
beatbeat2 ●●○S3 noun
Examples
Thesaurus
Collocations
Phrases
Word family
1[countable] one of a series of regular movements or hitting actions: a heart rate of 80 beats a minute the steady beat of the drum2[singular] a regular repeated noiseSYN rhythmbeat of the beat of marching feet3[countable] the main rhythm that a piece of music or a poem has: a song with a beat you can dance to4[singular] a subject or area of a city that someone is responsible for as their job: journalists covering the Washington beaton the beat People like to see police officers on the beat.5[countable] one of the notes in a piece of music that sounds stronger than the other notes
beat1 verb
beat2 noun
beat3 adjective
beatbeat3 adjective [not before noun]
Thesaurus
Collocations
Phrases
informal very tiredSYN exhausted: I’m beat. Come and sit down – you must be dead beat.► see thesaurus at