beat at
beat at (someone or something)
To attempt to strike a person or thing. I beat at that bug with a broom, but I was too scared to get close enough to actually hit it. The girl beat at the advancing bully, but he easily tossed her aside. A: "You're only beating at the roach, you know. You won't be able to hit it unless you open your eyes!" B: "Why don't you kill it then?"
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
beat at something
to strike out at something. He beat at his attacker to no avail. Lily beat at the snake, but didn't harm it.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
References in periodicals archive
I Turner beat M McGonigle 2 and 1; J Egen beat C Elvin 6 and 5; D Arkle beat D Turnbull 2 up; M Arkle
beat AT Potts 5 and 4; J Henderson beat G Campbell 7 and 5; R Birkett lost to G Crombie 2 and 1.
G Ridley beat J Egen 1 up; J Eggleston beat D Arkle 4 and 3; A Tate lost to M Arkle 4 and 2; J Storey
beat AT Oliver 4 and 2; L Foggon beat M Clements 4 and 3; D Scott beat D Hulme 3 and 2.
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