miss a beat

Hesitate momentarily, out of embarrassment or confusion. This expression is most often used in a negative context, as in He sidestepped the reporter's probe into his personal life without missing a beat, or Not missing a beat, she outlined all the reasons for her decision. This expression alludes to the regular beat of musical time. [Mid-1900s]

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Patricia	pə-TRISH-ə (English), pah-TREE-thyah (Spanish), pah-TREE-syah (Latin American Spanish), pah-TREE-tsee-ah (German)	English, Spanish, German, Late Roman
Peregrinus	-	Late Roman
Irmgard	EERM-gahrt	German
Touthmosis	-	Ancient Egyptian (Hellenized)
Kyung-Ja	gyung-jah	Korean
AlŽBĚTa	-	Czech