beats me

idiom

Meaning

I don't know; I have no idea.

Origin

disputed origin

A shortening of it beats me

Examples

SIMPLE

Beats me why she's always late.

CONTEXTUAL

When they asked who broke the window, I shrugged and said, 'Beats me.'

COMPLEX

Confronted with the obscure historical reference, even the professor admitted, 'Beats me,' and suggested we look it up together.

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Last updated April 17, 2026