beat+a+retreat
1beat a retreat — beat a (hasty) retreat ► to decide not to continue with something that has become too difficult or not worth doing: »Most of the market beat a hasty retreat, investors being unimpressed by a volatile performance on Wall Street. beat a retreat… …
2beat a retreat — beat a (hasty) retreat to quickly leave. When the cold grows overwhelming, visitors can beat a retreat to Joe Mulligan s warm bar and restaurant. Etymology: based on the military meaning of beat a retreat (= to drum a signal to soldiers that they …
3beat the retreat — see ↑beat a retreat above. • • • Main Entry: ↑beat …
4beat a retreat — ► beat a retreat withdraw. Main Entry: ↑beat …
5beat a retreat — index quit (evacuate) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …
6beat a retreat — verb depart hastily • Hypernyms: ↑depart, ↑take leave, ↑quit • Verb Frames: Somebody s * * * phrasal : to retreat or retire often in haste or with loss of dignity * * * beat a retreat …
7beat a retreat — {v. phr.} 1. To give a signal, esp. by beating a drum, to go back. * /The Redcoats drums were beating a retreat./ 2. To run away. * /They beat a retreat when they saw that they were too few./ * /The cat beat a hasty retreat when he saw the dog… …
8beat a retreat — {v. phr.} 1. To give a signal, esp. by beating a drum, to go back. * /The Redcoats drums were beating a retreat./ 2. To run away. * /They beat a retreat when they saw that they were too few./ * /The cat beat a hasty retreat when he saw the dog… …
9beat\ a\ retreat — v. phr. 1. To give a signal, esp. by beating a drum, to go back. The Redcoats drums were beating a retreat. 2. To run away. They beat a retreat when they saw that they were too few. The cat beat a hasty retreat when he saw the dog coming. Compare …
10beat a retreat — to leave a place because it is dangerous or unpleasant. When the cold grows overwhelming, visitors can beat a retreat to Joe Mulligan s warm saloon. When we saw the police arriving we beat a hasty retreat …
