English Reference
Idiom idiom

beat it


To leave; to go away.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

The kids were making too much noise, so I told them to beat it.

CONTEXTUAL

When the unwanted salesman refused to leave the porch, I finally told him to beat it.

COMPLEX

Realizing the police were closing in on his position, the thief decided it was time to beat it before he was caught.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    beat a dead horse

    To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest or reason.

  2. 02

    beat a retreat

    To leave hastily in the face of opposition.

  3. 03

    beat around the bush

    To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally.

  4. 04

    beat as one

    To share the same feelings.

  5. 05

    beat Banaghan

    To tell wonderful stories, or something which is amazing and remarkable.

  6. 06

    beat feet

    To run.

  7. 07

    beat off

    To masturbate by stimulating one's own penis.

  8. 08

    beat off with a stick

    To reject (a person making an unwanted amorous approach).

Last updated August 10, 2026