beat the bishop
To masturbate.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He went to his room to beat the bishop.”
“Some people say that beating the bishop helps them fall asleep faster.”
“You should lock the door if you plan to beat the bishop.”
“The teenager felt embarrassed when his mother walked in while he was beating the bishop.”
“He joked that living with three roommates meant he rarely had enough privacy to beat the bishop in peace.”
“The doctor explained that beating the bishop is a normal and healthy part of adult life for most men.”
“In the privacy of his own quarters, he found solace in beating the bishop after a long and stressful day.”
disputed origin
The origins of the expression remain uncertain, though it is commonly understood to be an informal variation of related phrases such as bash the bishop or beat one's meat. The term suggests a visual or rhythmic euphemism of recent vintage, but the historical record provides no specific date of coinage or attribution to a particular individual. The phrase relies upon a comparison to existing idiomatic structures rather than a documented etymological event.
- 01
bash the bishop
To masturbate by stimulating one's penis.
- 02
beat a dead horse
To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest or reason.
- 03
beat a retreat
To leave hastily in the face of opposition.
- 04
beat around the bush
To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally.
- 05
beat as one
To share the same feelings.
- 06
beat Banaghan
To tell wonderful stories, or something which is amazing and remarkable.
- 07
beat feet
To run.
- 08
beat it
To leave; to go away.
Last updated August 10, 2026