beat out

present singular third person beats out · participle present beating out · participle past beaten out

1. To sound a rhythm on a percussion instrument such as a drum.

   The drummer beat out a steady slow march.

   1 more example

   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. USTo 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 gamesTo reach base after a bunt or groundball.

   1 more example

   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.