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beat a retreat |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.06 sec. |
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beat a retreat to leave a place because it is dangerous or unpleasant. When the cold grows overwhelming, visitors can beat a retreat to Joe Mulligan's warm saloon. When we saw the police arriving we beat a hasty retreat. See also: beat beat a (hasty) retreat to quickly leave. When the cold grows overwhelming, visitors can beat a retreat to Joe Mulligan's warm bar and restaurant. Etymology: based on the military meaning of beat a retreat (= to drum a signal to soldiers that they are to move back from a fight, usually one they have lost) See also: beat |
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? References in classic literature |
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He then went to the Beasts, but soon had to beat a retreat, or else they would have torn him to pieces. Then he beat a retreat, with drooping head, but the last in the field, like a general who has fought well. At this moment Dick beat a retreat in a disarray of nerves, a whistling and clamour of his own arteries, and in short in such a final bodily disorder as made him alike incapable of speech or hearing. |
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beat a retreat
