# beats me

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/beats-me
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

I don't know; I have no idea.

## Examples

- Beats me why she's always late.
- When they asked who broke the window, I shrugged and said, 'Beats me.'
- Confronted with the obscure historical reference, even the professor admitted, 'Beats me,' and suggested we look it up together.

## Origin

A shortening of it beats me

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.