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[beef up]{v.}, {informal} To make stronger by adding men or equipment; make more powerful; reinforce. •/The general beefed up his army with more big guns and tanks./ •/The university beefed up the football coaching staff by adding several good men./

[bee in one’s bonnet]{n. phr.}, {informal} A fixed idea that seems fanciful, odd, or crazy. •/Robert Fulton had a bee in his bonnet about a steamboat./ •/Grandmother has some bee in her bonnet about going to the dance./

[beeline] See: MAKE A BEELINE FOR.

[be even-Steven]{v. phr.} To be in a position of owing no favors or debt to someone. •/Yesterday you paid for my lunch, so today I paid for yours; now we’re even-Steven./

[before long]{adv. phr.} In a short time; without much delay; in a little while, soon. •/Class will be over before long./ •/We were tired of waiting and hoped the bus would come before long./

[before one can say Jack Robinson]{adv. clause}, {informal} Very quickly; suddenly. — An overused phrase. •/Before I could say Jack Robinson, the boy was gone./ Compare: IN A FLASH, RIGHT AWAY.

[before swine] See: CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE or CAST ONE’S PEARLS BEFORE SWINE.

[before you know it]{adv. phr.} Sooner than one would expect. •/Don’t despair; we’ll be finished with this work before you know it!/

[beg] See: BEGGING.

[be game]{v. phr.} To be cooperative, willing, sporting. •/When I asked Charlie to climb Mount McKinley with us, he said he was game if we were./

[beggars can’t be choosers] People who can not choose what they will have, must accept what they get; if you are not in control, you must take what you can gel. •/We wanted to leave on the train in the morning but it doesn’t go until afternoon, so we must go then. Beggars can’t he choosers./ •/Mary got a red dress from her sister, although she didn’t like red. She kept it because she said beggars should not be choosers./ Compare: LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH.

[begin with]{adv. phr.} As a preliminary statement; in the first place. •/To begin with, you are far too young to get married./

[beg off]{v.} To ask to be excused. •/Father told Tom to rake the yard, but Tom tried to beg off./ •/Mrs. Crane accepted an invitation to a luncheon, but a headache made her beg off./ Compare: BACK OUT.

[beg the question]{v. phr.}, {literary} To accept as true something that is still being argued about, before it is proved true; avoid or not answer a question or problem. •/The girls asked Miss Smith if they should wear formal dresses to the party; Miss Smith said they were begging the question because they didn’t know yet if they could get permission for a party./ •/Laura told Tom that he must believe her argument because she was right. Father laughed and told Laura she was begging the question./ Compare: TAKE FOR GRANTED.

[behalf] See: IN BEHALF OF or ON BEHALF OF, IN ONE’S BEHALF or ON ONE’S BEHALF.

[behavior] See: ON ONE’S GOOD BEHAVIOR.

[be hard on]{v. phr.} To be strict or critical with another; be severe. •/"Don’t be so hard on Jimmy," Tom said. "He is bound to rebel as he gets older."/