# skip a beat

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/skip-a-beat
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To momentarily falter.

## Examples

- She played the song perfectly without skipping a beat.
- Even when the interviewer asked a difficult question, he answered without skipping a beat.
- The seasoned performer navigated the technical failure on stage with such grace that she did not skip a beat.

---

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.