I need to beat the bushes to find a new job.
beat the bushes
idiomSynonym of pound the pavement (“to campaign diligently; to seek something”).
Origin
disputed originBoth beat the bushes and scare up have figurative senses, referring to traversing the landscape seeking difficult-to-find things, that arose by extension from their senses referring to driving game out of the bush when hunting.
The manager told the sales team to beat the bushes for new clients before the end of the quarter.
The campaign manager spent weeks beating the bushes for potential donors, hoping to secure enough funding to keep the candidate in the race.
- 01
beat a dead horse
To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest or reason.
- 02
beat a retreat
To leave hastily in the face of opposition.
- 03
beat around the bush
To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally.
- 04
beat as one
To share the same feelings.
- 05
beat Banaghan
To tell wonderful stories, or something which is amazing and remarkable.
- 06
beat feet
To run.
- 07
beat it
To leave; to go away.
- 08
beat off
To masturbate by stimulating one's own penis.
Last updated April 17, 2026