Beat to it
get ahead of someone to obtain something, as in there was only enough for one, so jane ran as fast as she could in order to beat jerry to it. [ ; c. 1900 ]
also, beat to the draw or punch. react more quickly than someone else. for example, the new salesman tried to serve one of my customers, but i beat him to the draw and bill was determined to get there first and beat everyone else to the punch. the variants imply aggression to get ahead, draw alluding to the drawing of a pistol and punch to hitting with the fists. [ second half of 1800s ]
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- Beat to the ground
beat to the ground adjective phrase (variations: a frazzle or the socks may replace the ground) totally exhausted; p–ped: frankie machine, looking beat to the ground, brushed past (entry form 1940s+; second form 1900s+)
- Beaten biscuit
a hard, unleavened biscuit, made to rise by pounding and folding the dough. historical examples it is well not to have beaten biscuit and light bread baked at the same time, as they require different degrees of heat. housekeeping in old virginia marion cabell tyree pie crust, hard cookies, and beaten biscuit are made of […]
- Beaten down to the ankles
beaten down to the ankles adjective phrase totally exhausted; beat, p–ped (1950s+)
- Beaten oil
beaten oil (ex. 27:20; 29:40), obtained by pounding olives in a mortar, not by crushing them in a mill. it was reckoned the best. (see olive.)
- Beaten gold
beaten gold in num. 8:4, means “turned” or rounded work in gold. the greek version, however, renders the word “solid gold;” the revised version, “beaten work of gold.” in 1 kings 10:16, 17, it probably means “mixed” gold, as the word ought to be rendered, i.e., not pure gold. others render the word in these […]