beast

be no good/use to man or beast (humorous)

to not be useful at all. This bike has got two flat tyres - it's no use to man or beast.

See also: good, man, use

be (in) the nature of the beast

if something unpleasant is in the nature of the beast, it cannot be avoided because it is part of the character of something. Relationships always involve some degree of dependence. It's in the nature of the beast.

See also: nature

a beast of burden (literary)

a large animal, such as a donkey (= an animal like a small horse with long ears), which is used for pulling vehicles or carrying heavy loads. Huskies are traditionally used in the Arctic as beasts of burden.

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(that's) the nature of the beast

this is the basic character of something. The place is wild and beautiful and also dangerous – that's the nature of the beast. People make progress but do not reach perfection because imperfection is the nature of the beast.

See also: nature