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Definition of Beat up
1. Verb. Give a beating to; subject to a beating, either as a punishment or as an act of aggression. "They want to beat up the prisoners "; "The teacher used to beat the students"
Specialized synonyms: Strong-arm, Soak, Pistol-whip, Belabor, Belabour, Rough Up, Flog, Lash, Lather, Slash, Strap, Trounce, Welt, Whip, Cane, Flog, Lambast, Lambaste, Kayo, Knock Cold, Knock Out, Flail, Lam, Thrash, Thresh, Baste, Batter, Clobber, Larrup, Paddle, Spank
Entails: Hit
Derivative terms: Beating
2. Verb. Gather. "Drum up support"
Definition of Beat up
1. Verb. (transitive) To give a severe beating to. ¹
2. Verb. To attack suddenly; to alarm. ¹
3. Verb. To cause by some other means, injuries comparable to the result of being beaten up. ¹
4. Verb. (context: reflexive) To feel badly guilty and accuse oneself over something. ''Usually followed by over or about.'' ¹
5. Verb. (military WW2 air pilots' usage) Repeatedly bomb a military target or targets. ¹
6. Verb. To get something done, ''derived from the idea of beating for game'' ¹
7. Verb. (intransitive nautical) To sail to windward using a series of alternate tacks across the wind. ¹
8. Adjective. (slang) Battered by time and usage; beaten up. ¹
9. Noun. A person who, or thing that, has been beaten up. ¹
10. Noun. An act of beating up: ¹
11. Noun. (UK Australia New Zealand) An artificially or disingenuously manufactured alarm or outcry, especially one agitated by or through the media. ¹
12. Noun. (forestry) A tree planted later than others in a plantation. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Lexicographical Neighbors of Beat Up
Literary usage of Beat up
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. Thesaurus of English words and phrases by Peter Mark Roget (1883)
"(ßt) 27; put in-trim,- train, for ; rehearse ; make provision for ; take -steps, -
measures, - precautions ; provide, - against ; beat up for recruits ..."
2. Advocate of Peace by American Peace Society (1857)
"I will beat up that sword, and then can I pray for peace.' I took my beautiful
sword, went to a smith's shop, and beat it into a pruning-hook. ..."
3. The Works of Tobias Smollett by Tobias George Smollett, William Ernest Henley (1899)
"... and that most of us will spend the Christmas holidays at Bath; in which case,
I shall certainly find an opportunity to beat up your quarters. ..."
4. A Brief Historical Relation of State Affairs, from September 1678 to April 1714 by Narcissus Luttrell (1857)
"... daily beat up for volunteers. Irish letters say that the protestants in that
kingdom are in continual apprehensions of being massacred, ..."
5. Letters and Papers Relating Chiefly to the Provincial History of by Thomas Balch, Edward Shippen (1855)
"In the meantime, he will beat up for volunteers, and get all he can. The Governor,
Mr. Allen,.Mr. Chew and myself are going, on Saturday, to Newtown, ..."
6. History of the Campaign for the Conquest of Canada in 1776: From the Death by Charles Henry Jones (1882)
"... Imminent—The British Troops Retire Without Striking a Blow—Further
Suspense—Detachments sent by Gates to "beat up" the Enemy's advance post—The British ..."
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