ENGLISH
REFERENCE

walk the beat

idiom
Meaning

To patrol on the job, especially as a police officer or guard.


Examples
SIMPLE

The officer walks the beat in this neighborhood every morning.

CONTEXTUAL

The new officer was nervous on his first day as he began to walk the beat in the city center.

COMPLEX

Having walked the beat for over twenty years, the veteran sergeant knew every shopkeeper and alleyway in the district by heart.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    ball and Chalk

    [Cockney slang]walk

  2. 02

    beat a dead horse

    To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest or reason.

  3. 03

    beat a retreat

    To leave hastily in the face of opposition.

  4. 04

    beat around the bush

    To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally.

  5. 05

    beat as one

    To share the same feelings.

  6. 06

    beat Banaghan

    To tell wonderful stories, or something which is amazing and remarkable.

  7. 07

    beat feet

    To run.

  8. 08

    beat it

    To leave; to go away.

Last updated April 17, 2026