beat out
verb8 senses
1
To sound a rhythm on a percussion instrument such as a drum.
- The drummer beat out a steady slow march.
- The seasons bring the flower again, And bring the firstling to the flock; And in the dusk of thee, the clock Beats out the little lives of men.1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto II”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
2
To extinguish.
- He managed to beat the flames out with a blanket.
3
US To defeat by a narrow margin.
- She beat out three other contenders to claim the prize.
4
To work out fully.
5
To make gold or silver leaf out of solid metal.
6
To bash a hole in.
7
Ball games, Baseball, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports Of a runner To reach base after a bunt or groundball.
- I then made another ſign that I wanted Drink. They found by my eating, that a ſmall Quantity would not ſuffice me, and being a moſt ingenious People, they flung up with great dexterity one of their largeſt Hogſheads, then rolled it towards my Hand, and beat out the top; I drank it off at a Draught, which I might well do, for it did not hold half a pint, and taſted like a ſmall Wine of Burgundy, but much more delicious.1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Gives Some Account of Himself and Family, His First Inducements to Travel. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 13:
8
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see beat, out.