beat a retreat en · VERB
Etymology
See beat (“to signal beating a drum”).
Meanings
- (idiomatic, informal) To leave hastily in the face of opposition.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| beat a retreat | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| beats a retreat | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| beaten a retreat | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| beating a retreat | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| beat retreat | alternative | lexicographic |