beat to the punch
To carry out an action before another person is able to do so.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I wanted that job, but she beat me to the punch.”
“I planned to buy the last tickets online, but someone else beat me to the punch.”
“The rival company beat us to the punch by releasing their innovative software just one day before our scheduled launch.”
- 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 August 10, 2026