beam up
1. To teleport someone or something, as in the stereotypical portrayals of aliens returning to their spaceship from Earth. In this new sci-fi movie, ordinary people get beamed up to an alien spaceship. A: "I haven't studied for this test. Do you think there's any chance I get beamed up to Mars before it starts?" B: "No, you're not that lucky." It seems this weirdo on the news is convinced that one of his cows was beamed up last night.
2. To die. The old man down the street is back in the hospital, and his family is worried that he'll beam up this time. When I'm beamed up, I don't want my funeral to be a somber occasion—I want people to smile and remember the good times we all had together! Wait, Ed beamed up? Ed, the guy who was our neighbor for years? Oh my goodness, I had no idea—when did that happen?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
beam someone or something up (to some place)
to transport someone or something (up) to something. (Originally in the context of a Star Trek adventure, but also used jocularly.) The captain asked the first mate to beam him up. Please beam up the crew, Roger. Beam me up so I can see your penthouse suite!
beam up
Sl. to die. (Alluding to the television program Star Trek.) Pete Dead? I didn't think he was old enough to beam up. I was so exhausted after climbing four flights that I was afraid I would beam up.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
beam up
in. to die. (From the television program Star Trek.) Pete Dead? I didn’t think he was old enough to beam up.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.