beat+a+retreat
41retreat — n 1.(all usu. of armed forces) strategic withdrawal, countermarch, volte face, recoil, pullout, rout, evacuation, exodus, stampede, katabasis. 2. departure, flight, hegira, escape, getaway. 3. backing away, reversal, about face, turnabout, Inf.… …
42beat to quarters — verb To summon the crew of a sailing man of war to their stations for action against an enemy. In the Royal Navy the drums were beaten to the rhythm of . See Also: beat a retreat …
43Beat — (b[=e]t), v. t. [imp. {Beat}; p. p. {Beat}, {Beaten}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Beating}.] [OE. beaten, beten, AS. be[ a]tan; akin to Icel. bauta, OHG. b[=o]zan. Cf. 1st {Butt}, {Button}.] 1. To strike repeatedly; to lay repeated blows upon; as, to beat… …
44Beat — (b[=e]t), v. t. [imp. {Beat}; p. p. {Beat}, {Beaten}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Beating}.] [OE. beaten, beten, AS. be[ a]tan; akin to Icel. bauta, OHG. b[=o]zan. Cf. 1st {Butt}, {Button}.] 1. To strike repeatedly; to lay repeated blows upon; as, to beat… …
45Beat — (b[=e]t), v. t. [imp. {Beat}; p. p. {Beat}, {Beaten}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Beating}.] [OE. beaten, beten, AS. be[ a]tan; akin to Icel. bauta, OHG. b[=o]zan. Cf. 1st {Butt}, {Button}.] 1. To strike repeatedly; to lay repeated blows upon; as, to beat… …
46beat — [bēt] vt. beat, beaten, beating [ME beten < OE beatan < IE * bhaut < base * bhau , * bhū , to strike, beat > BEETLE2, BUTT1 & BUTT2, L fustis, a club] 1. to …
47Beat — Beat, n. 1. A stroke; a blow. [1913 Webster] He, with a careless beat, Struck out the mute creation at a heat. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. A recurring stroke; a throb; a pulsation; as, a beat of the heart; the beat of the pulse. [1913 Webster] 3.… …
48Beat of a clock — Beat Beat, n. 1. A stroke; a blow. [1913 Webster] He, with a careless beat, Struck out the mute creation at a heat. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. A recurring stroke; a throb; a pulsation; as, a beat of the heart; the beat of the pulse. [1913 Webster] …
49Beat of a watch — Beat Beat, n. 1. A stroke; a blow. [1913 Webster] He, with a careless beat, Struck out the mute creation at a heat. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. A recurring stroke; a throb; a pulsation; as, a beat of the heart; the beat of the pulse. [1913 Webster] …
50Beat of drum — Beat Beat, n. 1. A stroke; a blow. [1913 Webster] He, with a careless beat, Struck out the mute creation at a heat. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. A recurring stroke; a throb; a pulsation; as, a beat of the heart; the beat of the pulse. [1913 Webster] …