Beat the bushes for
look everywhere for something or someone, as in i’ve been beating the bushes for a subst-tute but haven’t had any luck. this term originally alluded to hunting, when beaters were hired to flush birds out of the brush. [ 1400s ]
also see: beat around the bush
Read Also:
- Beat the bushes
a low plant with many branches that arise from or near the ground. a small cl-ster of shrubs appearing as a single plant. something resembling or suggesting this, as a thick, sh-ggy head of hair. also called bush lot. canadian. a small, wooded lot, especially a farm lot with trees left standing to provide firewood, […]
- Beat the clock
finish something or succeed before time is up, as in the paper went to press at five o’clock, and they hurried to beat the clock. the term comes from various sports or races in which contestants compete within a certain time limit.
- Draw
to cause to move in a particular direction by or as if by a pulling force; pull; drag (often followed by along, away, in, out, or off). to bring, take, or pull out, as from a receptacle or source: to draw water from a well. to bring toward oneself or itself, as by inherent force […]
- Beat the drum
a musical percussion instrument consisting of a hollow, usually cylindrical, body covered at one or both ends with a tightly stretched membrane, or head, which is struck with the hand, a stick, or a pair of sticks, and typically produces a booming, tapping, or hollow sound. any hollow tree or similar object or device used […]
- Beat the rap
to strike, especially with a quick, smart, or light blow: he rapped the door with his cane. to utter sharply or vigorously: to rap out a command. (of a spirit summoned by a medium) to communicate (a message) by raps (often followed by out). slang. to criticize sharply: critics could hardly wait to rap the […]