Beat all hollow

having a sp-ce or cavity inside; not solid; empty:
a hollow sphere.
having a depression or concavity:
a hollow surface.
sunken, as the cheeks or eyes.
(of sound) not resonant; dull, m-ffled, or deep:
a hollow voice.
without real or significant worth; meaningless:
a hollow victory.
insincere or false:
hollow compliments.
hungry; having an empty feeling:
i feel absolutely hollow, so let’s eat.
an empty sp-ce within anything; a hole, depression, or cavity.
a valley:
they took the sheep to graze in the hollow.
foundry. a concavity connecting two surfaces otherwise intersecting at an obtuse angle.
to make hollow (often followed by out):
to hollow out a log.
to form by making something hollow (often followed by out):
to hollow a place in the sand; boats hollowed out of logs.
to become hollow.
in a hollow manner:
the politician’s accusations rang hollow.
beat all hollow, to surp-ss or outdo completely:
his performance beat the others all hollow.
also, beat hollow.
adjective
having a hole, cavity, or sp-ce within; not solid
having a sunken area; concave
recessed or deeply set: hollow cheeks
(of sounds) as if resounding in a hollow place
without substance or validity
hungry or empty
insincere; cynical
a hollow leg, hollow legs, the capacity to eat or drink a lot without ill effects
adverb
(brit, informal) beat someone hollow, to defeat someone thoroughly and convincingly
noun
a cavity, opening, or sp-ce in or within something
a depression or dip in the land
verb often foll by out, usually when tr
to make or become hollow
to form (a hole, cavity, etc) or (of a hole, etc) to be formed
adj.

c.1200, from old english holh (n.) “hollow place, hole,” from proto-germanic -hul-, from pie -kel- “to cover, conceal” (see cell). the figurative sense of “insincere” is attested from 1520s. related: hollowly; hollowness. to carry it hollow “take it completely” is first recorded 1660s, of unknown origin or connection.
v.

late 14c., holowen, from hollow (adj.). related: hollowed; hollowing.
n.

“lowland, valley, basin,” 1550s, probably a modern formation from hollow (adj.). old english had holh (n.) “cave, den; internal cavity.”

verb phrase

to defeat easily; surp-ss completely: his story beats mine all hollow

[mid-1800s+; beat hollow, ”beat entirely, clobber” is attested fr 1769]

related terms

beat all hollow
see: beat the pants off (hollow)