beat the bushes

beat the bushes also beat the brush {v. phr.}, {informal}

To try very hard to find or get something.

The mayor was beating the bushes for funds to build the playground.

Contrast: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH or BEAT AROUND THE BUSH.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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beat about the bush

[beat about the bush] or [beat around the bush] {v. phr.}, {slang} To talk about things without giving a clear answer; avoid the question or the point. * /He would […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

beat up

[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 […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

beat the --- out of

[beat the --- out of] or [lick the --- out of] or [whale the --- out of] {v. phr.}, {informal} To beat hard; give a bad beating to. - Used […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

hear the beat

[hear the beat] or [see the beat] {v. phr.}, {dialect} To hear of or to see someone or something better or surpassing. - Usually used in negative or interrogative sentences […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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pass by the board

[pass by the board] See: [GO BY THE BOARD].

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Arjay Miller, Dean of Stanford GSB

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