Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[beat one’s head against a wall]{v. phr.} To struggle uselessly against something that can’t be beaten or helped; not succeed after trying very hard. •/Trying to make him change his mind is just beating your head against a wall./

[beat the band]{adv. phr.}, {informal} At great speed; with much noise or commotion. — Used after "to". •/The fire engines were going down the road to beat the band./ •/The audience cheered and stamped and clapped to beat the band./

[beat the bushes] also [beat the brush] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try very hard to find or get something. •/The mayor was beating the bushes for funds to build the playground./ Contrast: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH or BEAT AROUND THE BUSH.

[beat the drum]{v. phr.} To attract attention in order to advertise something or to promote someone, such as a political candidate. •/Mrs. Smith has been beating the drum in her town in order to get her husband elected mayor./

[beat the gun] See: JUMP THE GUN.

[beat the --- out of] or [lick the --- out of] or [whale the --- out of] {v. phr.}, {informal} To beat hard; give a bad beating to. — Used with several words after "the", as "daylights", "living daylights", "tar". •/The big kid told Charlie that he would beat the daylights out of him if Charlie came in his yard again./

[beat the meat]{v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To masturbate (said primarily of men). •/"So what did you do for sex in prison for seven years?" Joe asked. "Well, unless you want to become gay, you can beat the meat and that’s about it," Max answered./

[beat the pants off]{v. phr.} 1. To prevail over someone in a race or competition. •/Jim beat the pants off George in the swimming race./ 2. To give someone a severe physical beating. •/Jack beat the pants off the two young men who were trying to hold him up in Central Park./

[beat the rap]{v. phr.} To escape the legal penalty one ought to receive. •/In spite of the strong evidence against him, the prisoner beat the rap and went free./

[beat the shit out of]{v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} See: KNOCK THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF.

[beat time]{v. phr.} To follow the rhythm of a piece of music by moving one’s fingers or feet. •/Jack was beating time with his foot during the concert, which annoyed his neighbor./

[beat to]{v.}, {informal} To do something before someone else does it. •/I was waiting to buy a ticket but only one ticket was left, and another man beat me to it./ •/We were planning to send a rocket into space but the Russians beat us to it./ Compare: GET THE JUMP ON.

[beat to the punch] or [beat to the draw] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do something before another person has a chance to do it. •/John was going to apply for the job, but Ted beat him to the draw./ •/Lois bought the dress before Mary could beat her to the punch./

[beat up]{v.}, {informal} To give a hard beating to; hit hard and much; thrash; whip. •/When the new boy first came, he had to beat up several neighborhood bullies before they would leave him alone./ — Used with "on" in substandard speech. •/The tough boy said to Bill, "If you come around here again, I’ll beat up on you."/