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beat down

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beat down (on someone or something)

to fall on someone or something. The rain beat down on us for an hour. The rock slide beat down on the car and totally ruined the body.

See also: beat, down

beat someone down

Fig. to defeat or demoralize someone. The constant bombing finally beat them down. The attackers beat down the defenders.

See also: beat, down

beat something down

 

1. to break something in; to break through something. Don't beat the door down! I'm coming! Please don't beat down the door!

2. to flatten something. Sam beat the veal down to the thickness of a half an inch. First you beat down the meat to a very thin layer.

See also: beat, down

beat somebody down

to make someone tired or unable to continue doing something I like the work, but the schedule just beats me down and wears on me.

Usage notes: often used in the form be beaten down: Paul was so beaten down by his debts that he couldn't even think.

See also: beat, down

beat down

1. Force or drive down; defeat or subdue. For example, "And finally to beat down Satan under our feet" ( The Book of Common Prayer, 1552). [c. 1400]

2. Strike violently, as in the The sun kept beating down on us all day long. [Mid-1800s]

3. beat someone down. Make someone lower a price, as in He's always trying to beat us down. Economist Jeremy Bentham used this idiom in 1793: "Thus monopoly will beat down prices." [Slang; late 1700s]

See also: beat, down

beat down

v.

1. To hit something until it falls down: The police beat down the door of the suspect's house. They approached the crumbling wall and beat it down with their bare hands.

2. To defeat or demoralize someone: The constant criticism beat me down, and it was hard for me to try again. The invaders beat down every village they passed through.

3. To fall down steadily and heavily: The rain beat down on the roof.

4. To persuade someone to reduce the price of something: The clerk wanted $40 for the shoes but I beat him down to $30.

See also: beat, down