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[beat the rap]{v. phr.} To escape the legal penalty one ought to receive. •/In spite of the strong evidence against him, the prisoner beat the rap and went free./

[beat the shit out of]{v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} See: KNOCK THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF.

[beat time]{v. phr.} To follow the rhythm of a piece of music by moving one’s fingers or feet. •/Jack was beating time with his foot during the concert, which annoyed his neighbor./

[beat to]{v.}, {informal} To do something before someone else does it. •/I was waiting to buy a ticket but only one ticket was left, and another man beat me to it./ •/We were planning to send a rocket into space but the Russians beat us to it./ Compare: GET THE JUMP ON.

[beat to the punch] or [beat to the draw] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do something before another person has a chance to do it. •/John was going to apply for the job, but Ted beat him to the draw./ •/Lois bought the dress before Mary could beat her to the punch./

[beat up]{v.}, {informal} To give a hard beating to; hit hard and much; thrash; whip. •/When the new boy first came, he had to beat up several neighborhood bullies before they would leave him alone./ — Used with "on" in substandard speech. •/The tough boy said to Bill, "If you come around here again, I’ll beat up on you."/

[beauty sleep]{n.} A nap or rest taken to improve the appearance. •/She took her beauty sleep before the party./ •/Many famous beauties take a beauty sleep every day./

[beaver]{n.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} A female, especially one driving along the highway and operating a CB radio. •/I didn’t know there was a beaver aboard that eighteen wheeler./

[because of]{prep.} On account of; by reason of; as a result of. •/The train arrived late because of the snowstorm./

[beck] See: AT ONE’S BECK AND CALL.

[become of]{v. phr.} To happen to; befall. •/What will become of the children, now that both parents are in jail?/

[bed] See: GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED, GO TO BED WITH THE CHICKENS, MAKE ONE’S BED AND LIE IN IT, PUT TO BED.

[bed of nails]{n. phr.} A difficult or unhappy situation or set of circumstances. •/"There are days when my job is a regular bed of nails," Jim groaned./ Contrast: BED OF ROSES.

[bed of roses] or [bowl of cherries] {n. phr.} A pleasant easy place, job, or position; an easy life. •/A coal miner’s job is not a bed of roses./ •/After nine months of school, summer camp seemed a bowl of cherries./ Compare: IN CLOVER, LIFE OF RILEY.

[bed of thorns]{n. phr.} A thoroughly unhappy time or difficult situation. •/I’m sorry I changed jobs; my new one turned out to be a bed of thorns./ See: BED OF NAILS.

[bee] See: BIRDS AND THE BEES.

[beef about]{v. phr.} To complain about something. •/Stop beefing about your job, Jack. You could have done a lot worse!/