# beef

/ˈbif/ (US) · /bˈiːf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/beef
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. meat

noun · CEFR A2

the meat from a cow or bull used for food.

For teachers: the flesh of adult cattle used as food. Uncountable in its general sense.

- We are having roast beef and potatoes for dinner tonight.
- The chef insisted on sourcing grass-fed beef from local farms to ensure the highest quality for the steakhouse menu.

### 2. a complaint or argument

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

a complaint or a long-running argument with someone.

For teachers: a grievance, complaint, or a state of dispute between parties. Often used with the preposition 'with'.

- I have no beef with him; we just don't talk very much.
- The two rappers had a public beef that lasted for years before they finally reconciled at a charity event.

### 3. to complain

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

to complain about something.

For teachers: to complain or grumble. Intransitive; often followed by 'about'.

- He is always beefing about how much work he has to do.
- The residents began beefing about the new parking regulations long before the city council had even finalised the vote.

### 4. to strengthen

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to make something stronger or better by adding more to it.

For teachers: to add weight, strength, or power to something. Usually appears as the phrasal verb 'beef up'.

- The company needs to beef up its security after the break-in.
- The government decided to beef up the border patrols in response to the recent increase in illegal smuggling activities.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrasal form 'beef up' followed by a direct object.

## Examples

- He has a beef with the new manager.
- My main beef with the proposal is that it doesn't address the long-term costs.
- The long-standing beef between the two artists fueled years of lyrical battles, providing endless material for fans and critics to dissect.

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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.