Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[beat about the bush] or [beat around the bush] {v. phr.}, {slang} To talk about things without giving a clear answer; avoid the question or the point. •/He would not answer yes or no, but beat about the bush./ •/He beat about the bush for a half hour without coming to the point./ Compare: BESIDE THE POINT. Contrast: COME TO THE POINT.

[beat all] or [beat the Dutch] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be strange or surprising. •/John found a box full of money buried in his garage. Doesn’t that beat all!/ •/It beats the Dutch how Tom always makes a basket./

[beat all hollow] also [beat hollow] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do much better than; to beat very badly. •/We beat their team all hollow./ •/As a speaker, he beats us all hollow./

[beat a retreat]{v. phr.} 1. To give a signal, esp. by beating a drum, to go back. •/The Redcoats' drums were beating a retreat./ 2. To run away. •/They beat a retreat when they saw that they were too few./ •/The cat beat a hasty retreat when he saw the dog coming./ Compare: BACK DOWN, FALL BACK.

[beat around the bush] See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH.

[beat down]{v.} 1. To crush or break the spirit of; win over; conquer. •/All their defenses were beaten down by the tanks./ 2. {informal} a. To try to get reduced; force down by discussing. •/Can we beat down the price?/ b. To persuade or force (someone) to accept a lower price or easier payments. •/He tried to beat us down, so we did not sell the house./ 3. To shine brightly or hotly. •/At noon the sun beat down on our heads as we walked home./

[beaten path]{n. phr.} The usual route or way of operating that has been conventionally established, •/If we always follow the beaten path, we’ll never have the courage to try something new./

[beaten track]{n.} See: BEATEN PATH.

[beat hollow] See: BEAT ALL HOLLOW.

[beat into one’s head]{v. phr.}, {informal} To teach by telling again and again; repeat often; drill, also, to be cross and punish often. •/Tom is lazy and stubborn and his lessons have to be beaten into his head./ •/I cannot beat it into his head that he should take off his hat in the house./

[beat it]{v.}, {slang} To go away in a hurry; get out quickly. •/When he heard the crash he beat it as fast as he could./ — Often used as a command. •/The big boy said, "Beat it, kid. We don’t want you with us."/ Compare: CLEAR OUT(2), LIGHT OUT, HEAD FOR THE HILLS.

[beat one to it]{v. phr.} To arrive or get ahead of another person. •/I was about to call you, John, but you have beat me to it! Thanks for calling me./

[beat one’s brains out] or [beat one’s brains] {v. phr.}, {slang} To try very hard to understand or think out something difficult; tire yourself out by thinking. •/It was too hard for him and he beat his brains out trying to get the answer./ •/Some students are lazy, but others beat their brains and succeed./

[beat one’s gums]{v. phr.}, {slang} To engage in idle talk, or meaningless chatter; generally to talk too much. •/"Stop beating your gums, Jack," Joe cried. "I am falling asleep."/ Compare: CHEW THE FAT or CHEW THE RAG, SHOOT THE BREEZE or BAT THE BREEZE or FAN THE BREEZE or SHOOT THE BULL.