beat,beat about the 'bush(BrE)(AmE,beat around the 'bush)1.■take too long before saying what you want to say;avoid saying sth directly 转弯抹角地说；绕圈子:Don’t beat about the bush. Tell me exactly what you think is wrong with my work. 别转弯抹角的了，直接告诉我你认为我的工作有什么不对。beat sb at their own 'game2.■be more successful than sb in their special activity,sport, etc.; defeat sb using their own methods 赢某人的看家本领；在某人拿手的方面超过某人；以其人之道还制其人:If you thought someone was trying to cheat you, would you challenge him or try to beat him at his own game? 如果你认为有人企图欺骗你， 你会向他挑战还是以其人之道还制其人？beat your 'brains out (informal,especially AmE)3.■think very hard about sth for a long time 绞尽脑汁；费尽心思；反复推敲:I was beating my brains out all weekend trying to write the script. 整个周末我都在绞尽脑汁写脚本。beat your 'breast (often ironic)4.■show that you know you have done sth wrong and are sorry for this 捶胸顿足﹙表示懊悔﹚:If anything happens to the children while you’re out enjoying yourself, don’t come beating your breast to me about it afterwards. 你出去享乐的时候孩子们如果有个三长两短的，你别事后到我这儿来捶胸顿足。beat the 'clock5.■finish a task, race, etc. before a particular time提前完成任务﹙或比赛等﹚beat sb/sth 'hollow6.■beat sb easily in a contest, etc.; be much better than sb/sth﹙在竞赛等中﹚把某人打得落花流水，彻底打败；远远胜过:As a cook he beats the professionals hollow. 他的厨艺远远胜过那些专业厨师。'beat it (informal)7.■(usually used as a command 通常用作命令) go away 走开；磙:You’re not wanted here, so beat it.这里不欢迎你，走开。beat a path to sb’s 'door8.■if a lot of people beat a path to sb’s door, they are all interested in sth that person has to sell, or can do or tell them ﹙来访者﹚络绎不绝，踏破门槛；使成为注意的焦点:Top theatrical agents are beating a path to the teenager’s door. 顶尖级的演员经纪人纷纷把目光投向那个十几岁的少年。beat the 'rap (AmE, slang)9.■escape without being punished 逃脱惩罚:This time he didn’t beat the rap, and got three years in jail for robbery. 这一次他没有逃脱惩罚，因抢劫罪被判三年监禁。beat a (hasty) re'treat10.■go away quickly from sb/sth ﹙仓惶﹚撤退；﹙匆匆﹚离开:I had a terrible headache from all the noise and smoke at the party, so my wife and I beat a hasty retreat. 聚会上的噪音和烟味搞得我头疼难忍，所以我和妻子匆匆离开了。beat 'time11.■show the rhythm of a piece of music by striking sth, moving your hands, etc.﹙随着音乐节奏﹚打拍子:She beat time with her fingers. 她用手指打着拍子。,can you 'beat it/'that? (spoken)12.■used to express disbelief, surprise, annoyance, etc.﹙表示不相信、惊讶或恼怒等﹚竟有这等事，岂非咄咄怪事:Can you beat that? He’s just broken another glass. 你说怪不怪？他刚才又打碎了一只玻璃杯。if you can’t 'beat them, 'join them (saying)13.■if you cannot defeat sb or be as successful as they are, then it is more sensible to join them in what they are doing and perhaps get some advantage for yourself by doing so 如果不能打败他们，就和他们联合；打不赢，就加入:Everybody else seems to be leaving early today, so I think I will too. After all, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! 今天似乎其他人都要早走，我也只得早走。无可奈何之事，只好随大流。a rod/stick to 'beat sb with14.■a fact, an argument, etc. that is used in order to blame or punish sb ﹙用以怪罪或惩罚某人的﹚事实依据，理由:The results of the national exams this year are being used as another stick to beat teachers with. 今年全国统考的成绩又被用来作为怪罪老师的另一根据。15.■bang/beat the drum (for sb/sth) 另见drum16.■beat/scare the (living) daylights out of sb 另见daylights17.■beat/knock/kick the hell out of sb/sth 另见hell18.■your heart misses a beat 另见heart19.■win (sth)/beat sb hands down 另见hands