| English Dictionary |
BEAT A RETREAT
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does beat a retreat mean?
• BEAT A RETREAT (verb)
The verb BEAT A RETREAT has 1 sense:
1. depart hastily
Familiarity information: BEAT A RETREAT used as a verb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Depart hastily
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "beat a retreat" is one way to...):
depart; quit; take leave (go away or leave)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Context examples
And White Fang, resurrecting quite a deal of the old awe, seemed to wilt and to shrink in upon himself and grow small, as he cast about in his mind for a way to beat a retreat not too inglorious.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"A watched kettle never boils." (English proverb)
"If the thought is good, your place and path are good; if the thought is bad, your place and path are bad." (Bhutanese proverb)
"Fire is more bearable than disgrace." (Arabic proverb)
"Gentle doctors cause smelly wounds." (Dutch proverb)
"If the thought is good, your place and path are good; if the thought is bad, your place and path are bad." (Bhutanese proverb)
"Fire is more bearable than disgrace." (Arabic proverb)
"Gentle doctors cause smelly wounds." (Dutch proverb)