beat (someone or something) into (something)
1. To force someone to do something, as by violence or threats. Don't worry, boss—we'll beat him into silence before he can go to the cops. Dig up some embarrassing info that will beat my opponent into dropping out of the race. We were terrible right from the puck drop, so it didn't take long for our opponents to beat us into submission.
2. To put forth great effort so that someone learns or remembers something, especially through repetition. I stayed up all night, beating these physics equations into my head. Do I have to beat it into you guys? Clean up after yourselves! I'm only on time because my mom beat it into me that I needed to be here at 7:00.
3. To physically attack someone, as with punches and other blows, such that they suffer significant injury. A hyperbolic description of the beaten person's state (often "a pulp") typically follows "into." I can't believe that skinny kid beat the bully into a pulp! The attacker beat the poor man into a bloody mess. You can't challenge their toughest guy to a fight, he'd beat you to a pulp in no time!
4. To stir a substance until it changes state, as while cooking. You need to beat the eggs into a fluffy texture. We are making meringue here, so we need to beat the egg whites into stiff peaks. Here, take the whisk and beat the cream into an airy texture, ala whipped cream.
5. To add a substance into a mixture. OK, now beat the butter into the cake batter. A: "Mom, this really doesn't taste right." B: "Oh dear, it seems I forgot to beat sugar into the icing." Ken is beating the eggs into the boxed mix, so what's next?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
beat someone into (doing) something
to beat a person until the person agrees to do something or to assume a particular attitude. They had to beat John into submission before he gave up. Max threatened to beat Lefty into helping him rob the candy store.
beat someone into something
Fig. to beat a person until the person turns into a particular physical state, such as a pulp, a mess, etc. Fred threatened to beat Mike into a pulp if he didn't do as he was asked. Mike beat Fred into a bloody mess.
beat something into someone
and beat something inFig. to use physical abuse to get someone to learn something; to work very hard to get someone to learn something. (Beating something into someone or someone's head.) Do I have to beat this into your head? Why can't you learn? Why do I have to beat in this information? Can't you learn by yourself? Does someone have to beat it in?
beat something into something
to beat or whip something with a utensil, until it changes into something else. Beat the white of the egg into stiff peaks. Beat the batter into a smooth consistency.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
beat into
v.1. To mix something with something else with a vigorous stirring motion: I beat the eggs into the milk and flour gently, so that the batter didn't get too stiff.
2. To batter someone or something into some state or condition: The robbers beat their victim into submission.
3. To force someone to do something, especially through the use of physical violence: I didn't want to cooperate with those crooks, but they beat me into being the driver of the getaway car.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.